Improving Palliative Care Research Reporting: A Guide to Reporting Guidelines

INTRODUCTION

Considerable advancements have been made in the theoretical foundations, design, methodologies, and ethical considerations within palliative care research, highlighting the need for widespread dissemination of findings. Palliative care research is multifaceted, covering investigations into comprehending patients’ values, preferences, and care objectives, which entail addressing biopsychosocial symptoms and spiritual needs. In addition, it aims to improve overall quality of life, refine communication and decision-making processes, and foster effective teamwork among healthcare providers. These aspects are explored within the context of serious, life-threatening, or life-limiting illnesses.^[1] The disciplines of this field include bioethics, biostatistics, epidemiology, humanities, education, economics, e-health, health services research, and implementation science, underscoring the interdisciplinary nature of high-quality, ethically sound research.^[2]

Despite advancements, challenges persist in the form of poor reporting practices throughout the research process. For instance, under-reporting methodological aspects: Researchers might neglect to adequately report crucial methodological details in their observational studies within palliative care, for example, failing to describe the process of participant selection, data collection methods, or data analysis techniques. This under-reporting can compromise the transparency and reproducibility of the study findings, hindering the advancement of palliative care knowledge. Inaccuracies or discrepancies between abstracts and main texts of published articles can mislead readers and affect the interpretation of study findings. For instance, if the abstract of a palliative care study strongly supports the effectiveness of an experimental intervention, but the main text does not provide substantial evidence to support this claim, it can create confusion and potentially lead to inappropriate clinical decisions or resource allocations. Moreover, insufficient and deficient reporting of research in medical literature, such as failing to provide sufficient information about the rationale behind choosing a particular study design or not calculating the sample size needed to detect meaningful effects. As a result, the study may lack statistical power to draw valid conclusions, reducing its impact on clinical practice which may impede the comprehensive evaluation of the merits and limitations of the studies. Understanding the planned methodology, executed procedures, findings and the implications of results is imperative for readers. However, addressing the global issue of inadequate reporting requires a multifaceted approach, as challenges emerge at each stage of the research process.^[3] Factors contributing to poor reporting include poorly formulated research questions, lack of awareness about this guideline, and disparities among researchers from resource-poor and resource-rich settings. Limited resources further constrain research activities in resource-poor settings, hindering the overall improvement of reporting quality. ^[4] A commitment to transparent and complete reporting is imperative to address these challenges. Structured approaches guided by established reporting guidelines are pivotal in achieving comprehensive and transparent research reporting. These guidelines ensure transparency by detailing key elements: The research process, outcomes, benefits, potential biases, and harms.^[5] Academic research should focus on accurately relating research to existing knowledge, considering design and innovations to maximise impact.^[6] Reporting guidelines required for Palliative Medicine submissions can help prepare study protocols and ensure ethical approvals, transparency, and rigour.^[7] By following guidelines, researchers in palliative care can ensure comprehensive and transparent reporting of their studies, thereby enhancing the trustworthiness and reliability of their findings and facilitating the translation of research evidence into meaningful improvements in palliative care practice and policy. Thus, the imperative for producing and publishing high-impact health research underscores the importance of journals in promoting transparent reporting. Journals should encourage adherence to structured and standard reporting guidelines, fostering a culture of rigour and transparency in palliative care research.^[8]

The endorsement of reporting guidelines by esteemed medical journals serves as a constructive measure to enhance the reporting quality of studies. Implementing structured reporting in research not only elevates overall quality but also effectively mitigates reporting deficiencies. Journals can foster transparency and completeness in reporting by adhering to and advocating for the utilisation of structured guidelines. Therefore, this article aims to familiarise potential authors with the reporting guidelines used in the Indian Journal of Palliative Care (IJPC).

REPORTING GUIDELINES

Reporting guidelines are essential for health researchers when writing manuscripts, offering a structured framework to ensure clarity and transparency. They provide a minimum set of information necessary for readers to understand, researchers to replicate, clinicians to make informed decisions, and systematic reviews to include the study. These guidelines are crucial for specific study designs, presenting checklists, flow diagrams or structured text to guide authors in effectively communicating their research details. Following these guidelines enhances comprehension of research design, conduct, and analysis, enabling critical appraisal and appropriate interpretation of conclusions. Developed through explicit methodology, reporting guidelines are not mere suggestions but a structured approach to improve the reliability and value of health research literature. They aim to promote transparent and accurate reporting, encouraging widespread use for robust research communication.

In this article, the authors are trying to give details about the reporting guidelines followed for IJPC. Reporting Guidelines for Specific manuscript types are given in Figure 1.

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Figure 1:

Reporting guidelines proposed by Indian Journal of Palliative Care.

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These guidelines extend beyond mere reflections on academic paper content. They can be defined as structured tools, such as checklists, flow diagrams, or detailed text, offering guidance to authors in reporting specific research types. These guidelines are crafted through explicit methodologies, presenting a clear and systematic list of items that should be included in a paper and providing insights into the development process. In palliative care, evidence-based decision-making is paramount. Therefore, we need to adhere to the Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research (EQUATOR) guidelines. It offers a structured framework for transparently reporting various types of health research, ensuring that essential information is provided for critical appraisal and interpretation and it also enhances the quality and reliability of their research reporting. As an international initiative, the EQUATOR network^[8] strives to enhance the reliability and value of published health research literature. Its focus lies in promoting transparent and accurate reporting and fostering the widespread adoption of robust reporting guidelines. All available guidelines can be found on this website (https://www.equator-network.org/).

The list of most frequently used reporting guidelines in IJPC is detailed below:

CONCLUSION

Adhering to ethical standards is crucial in palliative care research, given its focus on vulnerable populations and sensitive topics. Reporting guidelines establish standards for conducting and evaluating qualitative research, covering key aspects such as study rationale, design, data collection, analysis, and reporting. These guidelines enhance research transparency and support stakeholders throughout publication by emphasising rigour, transparency, and ethical considerations. Compliance with such guidelines enhances manuscript quality, mitigates reporting bias, ensures ethical conduct, and facilitates critical appraisal. Ultimately, adherence to reporting guidelines fosters the generation of high-quality evidence in palliative care, improving patient and family outcomes while minimising wasteful research practices. This leads to the generation of high-quality evidence that can inform and improve the delivery of palliative care services, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families. In essence, these guidelines promote accountability, enrich reader comprehension, and uphold the integrity of scientific literature in palliative care research.