Reporting Standards

The protocol methods adhere to the PRISMA-P 2015 statement. The review identifies incomplete reporting as the most pervasive problem. CONSORT Harms 2022 was applicable to 30 included studies, but only 11 gave any detail on risk monitoring or risk-based exclusions. The review is presented as the first to synthesize economic evidence on CRGNB IPC measures using a discounting approach. Restricting inclusion to English and French publications may omit relevant evidence in other languages. Published omissions prevent researchers from replicating or adapting risk procedures. Heterogeneity in design, outcome definitions, and reporting standards may limit direct quantitative synthesis. Time-lag bias from unpublished or ongoing studies is an acknowledged limitation. The protocol is registered in the Research Registry as reviewregistry1948. The review recommends explicit risk definitions and reporting of exclusion counts by reason in every RCT protocol. The review recommends universal adoption of CONSORT Harms 2022 guidance.