A reporting guideline is a simple, structured tool for health researchers to use while writing manuscripts. Clinical trials should comply with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials Statement (CONSORT). Other types of studies should follow guidelines where available. These include MOOSE (Meta-analyses of observational studies), PRISMA (Transparent Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), STARD (Standards for the Reporting of Diagnostic accuracy studies), STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology), etc.

This episode discusses the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Statement, an evidence-based, minimum set of recommendations for reporting randomized trials. The CONSORT Statement comprises a 25-item checklist and a flow diagram.