STROBE
Also written as: STROBE — Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology
Acronym for Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology, a reporting guideline checklist used to ensure completeness and transparency in observational dental and medical research publications.
Full Definition
STROBE is an internationally recognised reporting checklist applicable to cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies — the study designs most commonly encountered in dental epidemiology and observational oral health research. It comprises 22 items covering title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. Editors at dental research journals are expected to confirm that authors of observational studies have submitted a completed STROBE checklist alongside their manuscript and that the manuscript content aligns with the declared checklist items. STROBE should not be confused with CONSORT (for randomised trials) or PRISMA (for systematic reviews), each of which applies to a different study design.
Usage
Usage note: Editors should verify that STROBE (not CONSORT or PRISMA) is the appropriate checklist for the study design. STROBE applies only to observational studies.
In Context
- "Authors of the cross-sectional dental caries prevalence study were required to submit a completed STROBE checklist prior to peer review." — Submission guidelines for a dental epidemiology journal
- "The editor noted that the discussion section failed to address study limitations as required by STROBE item 19." — Editorial decision letter for an observational study submission