Table 3 Reporting frequencies of individual STARD items for all studies and comparison of reporting frequencies with STARD being recommended (2015) vs. STARD being mandatory (2019) in Radiology

Title or abstract

1

Identification as a study of diagnostic accuracy using at least one measure of accuracy (such as sensitivity, specificity, predictive values or AUC)

2*

Structured summary of study design, methods, results and conclusions (for specific guidance, see STARD for Abstracts)

Introduction

3*

Scientific and clinical background, including the intended use and clinical role of the index test

4*

Study objectives and hypotheses

Methods

5

Whether data collection was planned before the index test and reference standard were performed (prospective study) or after (retrospective study)

6

Eligibility criteria

7

On what basis potentially eligible participants were identified (such as symptoms, results from previous tests, and inclusion in registry)

8

Where and when potentially eligible participants were identified (setting, location and dates)

9

Whether participants formed a consecutive, random or convenience series

10a

Index test, in sufficient detail to allow replication

10b

Reference standard, in sufficient detail to allow replication

12a

Definition of and rationale for test positivity cutoffs or result categories of the index test, distinguishing prespecified from exploratory

12b

Definition of and rationale for test positivity cutoffs or result categories of the reference standard, distinguishing prespecified from exploratory

13a

Whether clinical information and reference standard results were available to the performers or readers of the index test

13b

Whether clinical information and index test results were available to the assessors of the reference standard

14

Methods for estimating or comparing measures of diagnostic accuracy

15

How indeterminate index test or reference standard results were handled

16

How missing data on the index test and reference standard were handled

17

Any analyses of variability in diagnostic accuracy, distinguishing prespecified from exploratory

18*

Intended sample size and how it was determined

Results

19

Flow of participants, using a diagram

20

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of participants

21a

Distribution of severity of disease in those with the target condition

21b

Distribution of alternative diagnoses in those without the target condition

22

Time interval and any clinical interventions between index test and reference standard

23

Cross-tabulation of the index test results (or their distribution) by the results of the reference standard

24

Estimates of diagnostic accuracy and their precision (such as 95% CIs)

25

Any adverse events from performing the index test or the reference standard

Discussion

26*

Study limitations, including sources of potential bias, statistical uncertainty and generalizability

27*

Implications for practice, including the intended use and clinical role of the index test

Other information

28*

Registration number and name of registry

29*

Where the full study protocol can be accessed

30*

Sources of funding and other support; role of funders