Abstract
Background
Given the wide usage of emergency point-of-care ultrasound (EUS) among emergency physicians
(EPs), rigorous study surrounding its accuracy is essential. The Standards for Reporting
of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) criteria were established to ensure robust reporting
methodology for diagnostic studies. Adherence to the STARD criteria among EUS diagnostic
studies has yet to be reported.
Objectives
Our objective was to evaluate a body of EUS literature shortly after STARD publication
for its baseline adherence to the STARD criteria.
Methods
EUS studies in 5 emergency medicine journals from 2005–2010 were evaluated for their
adherence to the STARD criteria. Manuscripts were selected for inclusion if they reported
original research and described the use of 1 of 10 diagnostic ultrasound modalities
designated as “core emergency ultrasound applications” in the 2008 American College
of Emergency Physicians Ultrasound Guidelines. Literature search identified 307 studies;
of these, 45 met inclusion criteria for review.
Results
The median STARD score was 15 (interquartile range [IQR] 12–17), representing 60%
of the 25 total STARD criteria. The median STARD score among articles that reported
diagnostic accuracy was significantly higher than those that did not report accuracy
(17 [IQR 15–19] vs. 11 [IQR 9–13], respectively; p < 0.0001). Seventy-one percent of articles met ≥50% of the STARD criteria (56–84%)
and 4% met >80% of the STARD criteria.
Conclusions
Significant opportunities exist to improve methodological reporting of EUS research.
Increased adherence to the STARD criteria among diagnostic EUS studies will improve
reporting and improve our ability to compare outcomes.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 07, 2019
Accepted:
September 20,
2019
Received in revised form:
September 16,
2019
Received:
June 13,
2019
Footnotes
Reprints are not available from the authors.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
