The CARE guidelines: consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline development. (23rd October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gagnier, Joel J; Kienle, Gunver; Altman, Douglas G; Moher, David; Sox, Harold; Riley, David
• Other Names: Allaire Alyshia author non-byline.; Altman Douglas G author non-byline.; Aronson Jeffrey author non-byline.; Carpenter James author non-byline.; Gagnier Joel J author non-byline.; Hanaway Patrick author non-byline.; Hayes Carolyn author non-byline.; Jones David author non-byline.; Kaszkin-Bettag Marietta author non-byline.; Kidd Michael author non-byline.; Kiene Helmut author non-byline.; Kienle Gunver author non-byline.; Kligler Ben author non-byline.; Knutson Lori author non-byline.; Koch Christian author non-byline.; Milgate Karen author non-byline.; Mittelman Michele author non-byline.; Moher David author non-byline.; Oltean Hanna author non-byline.; Plotnikoff Greg author non-byline.; Rison Richard Alan author non-byline.; Riley David author non-byline.; Sethi Anil author non-byline.; Shamseer Larissa author non-byline.; Smith Richard author non-byline.; Sox Harold author non-byline.; Tugwell Peter author non-byline.
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2013
• Publication Date: 2013-10-23
• Subjects: Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2013-201554
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : A case report is a narrative that describes, for medical, scientific or educational purposes, a medical problem experienced by one or more patients. Case reports written without guidance from reporting standards are insufficiently rigorous to guide clinical practice or to inform clinical study design. Develop, disseminate and implement systematic reporting guidelines for case reports. We used a three-phase consensus process consisting of (1) premeeting literature review and interviews to generate items for the reporting guidelines, (2) a face-to-face consensus meeting to draft the reporting guidelines and (3) postmeeting feedback, review and pilot testing, followed by finalisation of the case report guidelines. This consensus process involved 27 participants and resulted in a 13-item checklist—a reporting guideline for case reports. The primary items of the checklist are title, key words, abstract, introduction, patient information, clinical findings, timeline, diagnostic assessment, therapeutic interventions, follow-up and outcomes, discussion, patient perspective and informed consent. We believe the implementation of the CARE (CAse REport) guidelines by medical journals will improve the completeness and transparency of published case reports and that the systematic aggregation of information from case reports will inform clinical study design, provide early signals of effectiveness and harms, and improve healthcare delivery.