Updates to the standardized reporting guidelines endorsed by the Journal

Excerpt

Consistent with the stance of leading journals in the specialty, the editorial board of the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia staunchly advocates clear scientific writing and transparent reporting of all research. We do so by endorsing key standardized reporting guidelines, advocating the uniform reporting requirements of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and ensuring that the decision letters we send to authors respectfully provide sound and expert guidance to foster improved accuracy and clarity in their revised articles and subsequent reports. Our “Instructions for Authors” are regularly updated online (www.​springer.​com/​12630 and www.​edmgr.​com/​cja) to reflect evolving editorial policies, present essential information regarding the required content of submitted articles, and provide numerous hyperlinks that serve as easy navigation tools to related resources for authors. In recent editorials, we have addressed several of the most commonly identified reporting problems in manuscripts submitted to the Journal, including problems relating to sample size estimation1 and statistical issues associated with multiplicity.2 Furthermore, we are making a considerable effort to enhance the rigour of our editorial peer review process, including the statistical reviews. While there is recent evidence of a gradual improvement in the overall quality of reported trials in this and other anesthesia journals,3 there is more work to be done. Although the overall rationale for reporting guidelines was recently addressed,4 over 90 reporting guidelines currently exist. Some guidelines are regularly updated and evidence-based, while others are not. The purpose of this editorial is to provide an update regarding the three reporting guidelines that the Journal currently endorses. These reporting guidelines should serve as equally important resources for authors submitting original research and for the reviewers and editors who evaluate the submitted articles. …