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. 2015 Dec 30;46(4):168–175.

Table 2. Number of articles that fulfill each recommendation of the STROBE Statement.

Section Subsection Code Recommendation Articles that fulfill each STROBE recommendation
n(%)
Title and abstract Title and abstract 1a Indicate the study's design with a commonly used term in the title or the abstract 13 (76)
1b Provide in the abstract an informative and balanced summary of what was found 15 (88)
Introduction Background/rationale 2 Explain the scientific background and rationale for the investigation being reported. 17 (100)
Objectives 3 State specific objectives, including any prespecified hypotheses. 13 (76)
Methods Study design 4 Present key elements of study design early in the paper. 17 (100)
Setting 5 Describe the setting, locations, and relevant dates, including periods of recruitment, exposure, follow-up, and data collection. 10 (59)
Participants 6 Cross-sectional study: give the eligibility criteria, and the sources and methods of selection of participants. 17 (100)
Variables 7 Clearly define all outcomes, exposures, predictors, potential confounders, and effect modifiers. Give diagnostic criteria, if applicable. 16 (94)
Data sources/measurement 8 For each variable of interest, give sources of data and details of methods of assessment (measurement). Describe comparability of assessment methods if there is more than one group. 16 (94)
Bias 9 Describe any efforts to address potential sources of bias. 7 (41)
Study size 10 Explain how the study size was arrived at. 9 (53)
Quantitative variables 11 Explain how quantitative variables were handled in the analyses. If applicable, describe which groupings were chosen and why. 16 (94)
Statistical methods 12a Describe all statistical methods, including those used to control for confounding. 15 (88)
12b Describe any methods used to examine subgroups and interactions. 15 (88)
12c Explain how missing data was addressed. 4 (24)
12d Cross-sectional study: If applicable, describe analytical methods taking account of sampling strategy. 7 (41)
12e Describe any sensitivity analyses. 1 (6)
Results Participants 13a Report numbers of individuals at each stage of study-eg numbers potentially eligible, examined for eligibility, confirmed eligible, included in the study, completing follow-up, and analysed 4 (24)
13b Give reasons for non-participation at each stage. 5 (299
13c Consider use of a flow diagram. 3 (18)
Descriptive data 14a Give characteristics of study participants (eg. Demographic, clinical, social) and information on exposures and potential confounders. 13 (76)
14b Indicate number of participants with missing data for each variable of interest. 3 (18)
Outcome data 15 Cross-sectional study: report numbers of outcome events or summary measures. 17 (100)
Main results 16a Give unadjusted estimates and , if applicable, confounder-adjusted estimates and their precision (eg. 95% confidence interval). Make clear which confounders were adjusted for and why they were included. 16 (94)
16b Report category boundaries when continuous variables were categorized. NA
16c If relevant, consider translating estimates of relative risk into absolute risk for a meaningful time period. NA
Other analyses 17 Report other analyses done - eg. analyses of subgroups and interactions, and sensitivity analyses. 15 (85)
Discussion Key results 18 Summarize key results with reference to study objectives. 16 (94)
Limitations 19 Discuss limitations of the study, taking into account sources of potential bias or imprecision. Discuss both direction and magnitude of any potential bias. 9 (53)
Interpretation 20 Give a cautious overall interpretation of results considering objectives, limitations, multiplicity of analyses, results from similar studies, and other relevant evidence. 14 (82)
Generalisability 21 Discuss the generalizability (external validity) of the study results. 13 (76)
Other information Funding 22 Give the sources of funding and the role of the funders for the present study and, if applicable, for the original study on which present article is based. 13 (76)