[Adherence to reporting guidelines in Perspectives in Surgery].

INTRODUCTION: Reporting guidelines were established to improve the quality of scientific papers. Currently, the most common are CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials), STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) and CARE (Clinical Consensus-based Case Reporting Guideline). Spin can be defined as (un)intentionally biased interpretation of results aimed at convincing readers of a positive benefit of any given intervention. The aim of the study was to evaluate the adherence of papers published in Perspectives in Surgery to CONSORT, STROBE or CARE and to identify the frequency of spin. METHODS: All articles published between 10/2014 and 9/2016 were analysed. Editorials and letters to editor were excluded. Original papers and case reports were assessed using 12 parameters. Any conclusion not corresponding to outcomes from pre-defined measurements was identified as spin. Descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: Of 210 articles, 144 (69%) were analysed - 67 (47%) retrospective studies, 3 (2%) prospective studies and 74 (51%) case reports. The studies showed the highest compliance in terms of reporting the cohort size (89%). On the other hand, study limitations were presented in 22%. Performed investigations and interventions were described in all (100%) case reports. Conversely, limitations were not mentioned in any. None of the analysed papers met all of the 12 monitored parameters. Spin was identified in 47 (67%) original articles. CONCLUSION: None of the evaluated papers adhered completely to the current reporting guidelines. Spin occurred in more than 2/3 of the publications.Key words: reporting guidelines spin CONSORT STROBE CARE.