Time to REFLECT

REFLECT, Reporting guidElines For randomized controLled trials for livEstoCk and food safeTy, is an evidence-based minimum set of items for trials reporting production, health, and food-safety outcomes.

Like the CONSORT Statement, REFLECT aims to improve the reporting—and, by extension—the design and interpretation—of clinical trials.

In January 2010, the REFLECT Statement will be published in Journal of Food Protection, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Zoonoses and Public Health, Preventive Veterinary Medicine, and Journal of Swine Health and Production. These publications will enable authors to cite the Statement in the journal most associated with their area.

Although designed for livestock and food-safety scientists, REFLECT provides all veterinarians—companion animal, lab animal, wildlife/exotic animal, basic scientists, etc.—with valuable guidance to improve the quality of veterinary research.

How can you REFLECT?

• Find out more at http://www.reflect-statement.org
• Use the 22-item checklist in your own research
• Write journal editors asking them to endorse the Statement
• Contact veterinary associations that publish research results to introduce the Statement and encourage its adoption as their editorial standard
• Help adapt the Statement for companion animal and other areas of veterinary medicine
• Promote the REFLECT Statement at national meetings attended by veterinary researchers (ACVIM, ACVS, etc.)

Contact Bob Larson for more information.