STrengthening the reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology-Molecular Epidemiology (STROBE-ME): an extension of the STROBE statement.

Authors: Gallo V (1,2) , Egger M (3) , McCormack V (4) , Farmer PB (5) , Ioannidis JP (6,7) , Kirsch-Volders M (8) , Matullo G (9,10) , Phillips DH (11) , Schoket B (12) , Stromberg U (13) , Vermeulen R (14) , Wild C (4) , Porta M (15) , Vineis P (1,9)

Affiliations:

(1) Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London (2) Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (3) Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, and CTU Bern, Bern University Hospital (4) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (5) Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester (6) Stanford Prevention Research Centre, Stanford University School of Medicine (7) Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Ioannina School of Medicine (8) Laboratory for Cell Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (9) HuGeF Human Genetics Foundation (10) Department of Genetics, Biology and Biochemistry, University of Turin (11) Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton (12) National Institute of Environmental Health (13) Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University (14) Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Division Environmental Epidemiology, Utrecht University (15) Institut Municipal d'Investigacio Medica (IMIM), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Source: Eur J Epidemiol. 2011 Oct;26(10):797-810

DOI: 10.1007/s10654-011-9622-1 Publication date: 2001 Oct E-Publication date: Oct. 29, 2011 Availability: abstract Copyright: Not specified

Language: English Countries: Not specified Location: Not specified Correspondence address: Gallo V. :
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus Norfolk Place, W2 1PG London, UK.
v.gallo@imperial.ac.uk

Keywords

Article abstract

Advances in laboratory techniques have led to a rapidly increasing use of biomarkers in epidemiological studies. Biomarkers of internal dose, early biological change, susceptibility, and clinical outcomes are used as proxies for investigating the interactions between external and/or endogenous agents and the body components or processes. The need for improved reporting of scientific research led to influential statements of recommendations such as STrengthening Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. The STROBE initiative established in 2004 aimed to provide guidance on how to report observational research. Its guidelines provide a user-friendly checklist of 22 items to be reported in epidemiological studies, with items specific to the three main study designs: cohort studies, case-control studies and cross-sectional studies. The present STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology-Molecular Epidemiology (STROBE-ME) initiative builds on the STROBE Statement implementing 9 existing items of STROBE and providing 17 additional items to the 22 items of STROBE checklist. The additions relate to the use of biomarkers in epidemiological studies, concerning collection, handling and storage of biological samples; laboratory methods, validity and reliability of biomarkers; specificities of study design; and ethical considerations. The STROBE-ME recommendations are intended to complement the STROBE recommendations.

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