Adherence to STROBE reporting guidelines in observational drowning research: A protocol for a scoping review

Rationale: Observational studies constitute a significant portion of drowning research, providing critical insights into risk factors, prevention strategies, and outcomes. The STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines offer a standardized framework to enhance the transparency, completeness, and quality of reporting in such studies.3 Despite their importance, the extent to which drowning research adheres to STROBE guidelines remains unclear. Objective: This scoping review aims to gather and synthesize existing observational drowning studies to assess the use and conformity with STROBE guidelines and does not comprise a meta-analysis. By identifying gaps and areas of inconsistency, this review can be used to inform future research practices, ultimately improving the rigor and reliability of drowning epidemiology. Review question: The primary review question is: How frequently and to what degree do observational studies in drowning research report adherence to the STROBE guidelines?