CONSORT 2025 statement: updated guideline for reporting randomised trialsOPEN ACCESS
BMJ · DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2024-081123
2025
Scientific integrity
Research standards
The minimum standards for research conducted or reported under the Sterling IMRES name.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Registration | Clinical trials are registered in a public registry before the first participant is enrolled. |
| Reporting guidelines | Studies are reported to the relevant EQUATOR guideline: CONSORT for trials, PRISMA for systematic reviews and equivalents for other designs. |
| Reproducibility | Protocols, analysis code and materials are documented so that others can repeat the work. |
| Data stewardship | Data are managed to FAIR principles and shared where ethics and consent allow. |
| Statistical reporting | Effect sizes and uncertainty are reported, and p-values are not used as the sole basis for conclusions. |
| Ethics and consent | Research with people has ethics approval and informed consent, and follows Good Clinical Practice. |
| No overstatement | Methods, status and findings are described without overstating what the evidence can support. |
See also research methodology.
Sources
Where the standards come from
A manifesto for reproducible scienceOPEN ACCESS
Nature Human Behaviour · DOI: 10.1038/s41562-016-0021
2017
The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardshipOPEN ACCESS
Scientific Data · DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2016.18
2016
The ASA Statement on p-Values: Context, Process, and PurposeOPEN ACCESS
The American Statistician · DOI: 10.1080/00031305.2016.1154108
2016
Resources
Guideline libraries and training
databaseFree
EQUATOR Network reporting guideline library
A searchable catalogue of more than 700 reporting guidelines for health research. You can filter it by study type, clinical area and report section to find the right checklist for a manuscript.
Online reference
guidelineFree
SPIRIT and CONSORT reporting guidelines (2025)
The official home of the 2025 SPIRIT checklist for trial protocols and the 2025 CONSORT checklist for reporting randomised trial results. Checklists, explanation papers and free online writing aids can all be downloaded at no cost.
Online reference
courseFree with registration
ICH Good Clinical Practice E6(R3)
An eight-module e-learning course, taking about three hours, on the updated ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice guideline across the life of a trial. It is offered in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, and learners who score at least 80% on the final quiz receive a certificate.
Self-paced online