TARGET声明解读:目标试验模拟的观察性研究报告规范

Interpretation of the TARGET Statement: Transparent Reporting of Observational Studies Emulating A Target Trial

  • 摘要: 在随机对照试验不可行或难以实施的情形下,采用观察性研究模拟目标试验,是评估干预措施因果效应的重要方法。然而,当前此类研究报告普遍存在撰写不规范、关键信息缺失等问题,严重影响了研究结果的可靠性和不同研究之间的可比性。2025年,国际专家组联合发布了TARGET声明(Transparent Reporting of Observational Studies Emulating a Target Trial),此为首个针对目标试验模拟研究的报告规范。该声明通过21个核心条目,系统规定了研究设计、数据映射、因果推断等关键环节的报告要求,并强调目标试验方案与观察性数据之间的对应关系。本文旨在系统介绍TARGET声明,并结合实例对核心条目进行解读,以期为研究者、期刊审稿人及编辑提供实用的报告指导。

     

    Abstract: In scenarios where randomized controlled trials are infeasible or difficult to implement, emulating target trials through observational studies has become an important method for assessing the causal effects of interventions. However, current reports of such studies often suffer from lack of standardization and missing key information, which seriously affects the reliability and comparability of the results. In 2025, an international expert group published the TARGET (Transparent Reporting of Observational Studies Emulating a Target Trial) Statement in BMJ and JAMA, which is the first reporting guideline specifically for studies emulating target trials. It systematically stipulates the reporting requirements for key aspects such as study design, data mapping, and causal inference through 21 core items, and emphasizes the correspondence between the target trial protocol and observational data. This article aims to provide a systematic interpretation of the TARGET Statement, and to offer practical reporting guidance for researchers, journal reviewers, and editors by analyzing the core items with examples, thereby promoting the standardization and high-quality development of target trial emulation studies in the medical field.

     

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