A Delphi consensus exercise involving 42 experts resulted in the updated STROCSS 2021 guidelines, with all items receiving a score between 7 and 9 by >70% of participants.
The STROCSS 2021 guidelines provide updated consensus-based recommendations to ensure good reporting quality among observational studies in surgery.
Introduction: Strengthening The Reporting Of Cohort Studies in Surgery (STROCSS) guidelines were developed in 2017 in order to improve the reporting quality of observational studies in surgery and updated in 2019. In order to maintain relevance and continue upholding good reporting quality among observational studies in surgery, we aimed to update STROCSS 2019 guidelines. Methods: A STROCSS 2021 steering group was formed to come up with proposals to update STROCSS 2019 guidelines. An expert panel of researchers assessed these proposals and judged whether they should become part of STROCSS 2021 guidelines or not, through a Delphi consensus exercise. Results: A total of 42 people (89%) completed the DELPHI survey and hence participated in the development of STROCSS 2021 guidelines. All items received a score between 7 and 9 by >70% of the participants, indicating a high level of agreement among the DELPHI group members with the proposed changes to all the items. Conclusion: We present updated STROCSS 2021 guidelines to ensure ongoing good reporting quality among observational studies in surgery.
Mathew et al. (2021) studied Observational studies in surgery (reporting guidelines) (n=42). STROCSS 2021 guidelines was evaluated on Agreement on proposed changes to items. A Delphi consensus exercise involving 42 experts resulted in the updated STROCSS 2021 guidelines, with all items receiving a score between 7 and 9 by >70% of participants.