Biased Outcome reporting Guidelines for Underwhelming Studies (BOGUS) statement and checklist

Abstract

Most biomedical research is flawed. While existing reporting guidelines (eg, STROBE, CONSORT, STARD) highlight the strengths of already strong studies, few resources exist to highlight the “strengths” of weak studies. The Biased Outcome reporting Guidelines for Underwhelming Studies (BOGUS) initiative fills a real gap in the multitude of existing guidelines. Representing a vast effort undertaken by a single individual with multiple opinions over seven days of productive pandemic procrastination, the guidelines are a first for “precision reporting” of underwhelming studies, and underscore ways of reporting underdeveloped methods and underachieving efforts. These guidelines will allow authors to better underemphasise limitations, underestimate bias, and undervalue their readers without underselling their work.