Reference
CARE Guidelines Checklist
The CARE (CAse REport) guidelines provide a standardized framework for writing complete, transparent, and useful clinical case reports. Use this checklist to ensure your report covers every essential element before submission.
Based on the CARE Statement — Gagnier JJ, et al. (2013).
What Are CARE Guidelines?
The CARE (CAse REport) guidelines were developed in 2013 through an international Delphi process involving case report editors, clinicians, and methodologists. The goal was to create a standardized reporting framework that would improve the completeness, transparency, and clinical utility of published case reports.
Before CARE, case reports varied widely in quality and completeness. Important information was often missing — differential diagnoses might be skipped, follow-up data omitted, or patient consent not documented. The CARE checklist addresses these gaps by providing a 13-item framework covering everything from the title to informed consent.
Today, the CARE guidelines are endorsed by the EQUATOR Network and required or recommended by hundreds of medical journals. Following CARE guidelines not only improves your manuscript quality but also significantly increases your chances of acceptance. For a complete guide on writing your report, see our step-by-step writing guide.
The Complete CARE Checklist (13 Items)
Title
- The words 'case report' appear in the title
- The area of focus is mentioned (e.g., diagnosis, treatment, outcome)
💡 A clear, descriptive title helps readers and search engines understand what your case report covers. Including 'case report' in the title is a CARE guideline requirement and helps with indexing.
Key Words
- 3–8 key words covering the topic, intervention, and outcome
💡 Keywords improve discoverability in PubMed and other databases. Choose terms that clinicians would search for when looking for similar cases. Use MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms when possible.
Abstract
- Introduction — what is unique about this case and why is it worth reporting?
- Case presentation — brief summary of demographics, clinical findings, diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes
- Conclusion — primary takeaway and clinical lesson
💡 The abstract is often the only part reviewers and readers see first. A structured abstract with clear headings (Background, Case Presentation, Conclusion) is preferred by most journals. Keep it within 150–250 words.
Introduction
- Background information with references
- Why this case is worth reporting — stated explicitly
💡 The introduction should be 1–2 paragraphs that establish context. Cite 3–5 key references to show awareness of existing literature, and clearly state what makes your case novel or educationally valuable.
Patient Information
- De-identified patient demographics
- Chief complaint and symptoms
- Relevant medical, family, and psychosocial history
- Relevant comorbidities and past interventions
💡 Provide enough demographic detail to contextualize the case without identifying the patient. Age, sex, and relevant social history are standard. Always de-identify — use approximate ages and avoid specific dates.
Clinical Findings
- Physical examination findings described
- Relevant results from other clinical assessments
💡 Document pertinent positive and negative findings from physical examination. Be specific — 'bilateral basal crepitations' is more useful than 'abnormal lung sounds.' Include vital signs where relevant.
Timeline
- Important dates and events presented in chronological order (a table or figure is recommended)
💡 A clinical timeline is one of the most underused elements in case reports. The CARE guidelines specifically recommend presenting events in chronological order, ideally in a table or figure. This helps readers follow the clinical course.
Diagnostic Assessment
- Diagnostic methods (e.g., lab, imaging, pathology)
- Diagnostic challenges and reasoning
- Differential diagnosis considered
💡 Show your clinical reasoning process. What investigations did you order and why? What differential diagnoses were considered? How was the final diagnosis confirmed? Include specific lab values with reference ranges.
Therapeutic Intervention
- Types of intervention described (pharmacologic, surgical, preventive, self-care)
- Administration of intervention (dosage, strength, duration)
- Changes to intervention with rationale
💡 Be specific about all treatments — drug names, dosages, routes, durations. If the treatment was changed during the course, explain why. Document any evidence basis for the treatment decision.
Follow-up and Outcomes
- Clinician-assessed and patient-assessed outcomes
- Important follow-up test results
- Intervention adherence and tolerability
- Adverse events or unanticipated outcomes
💡 Reviewers want to know what happened to the patient. Include follow-up duration, outcomes (both objective and subjective), any complications or adverse events, and how the patient is doing at last follow-up.
Discussion
- Strengths and limitations of this case
- Relevant medical literature referenced and discussed
- Rationale for conclusions and clinical lessons
- Main takeaway explicitly stated
💡 The discussion is the most important section. Compare your case with 10–15 published cases, explain the pathophysiology or mechanisms, acknowledge limitations, and clearly state the clinical lesson learned.
Patient Perspective
- Patient's own view of the treatment and outcome shared (when appropriate)
💡 While not required by all journals, including the patient's perspective adds depth and humanizes the report. This can be a brief quote or summary of how the patient experienced their illness and treatment.
Informed Consent
- Patient consent for publication obtained and documented
💡 This is mandatory. All journals require documented informed consent for case report publication. State explicitly in the manuscript that consent was obtained. Some journals require the consent form to be submitted with the manuscript.
How to Use This Checklist
Use this checklist at two key stages of your case report writing process:
1. Before Writing (Planning)
Review the checklist to understand what information you need to collect. Gather all clinical data, images, and consent forms before you start writing. This prevents gaps that are hard to fill later.
2. Before Submitting (Review)
Go through each item and verify your manuscript addresses it. Use our case report template which maps directly to these checklist items. CasePublish also provides automatic CARE compliance scoring.
Many journals now require authors to submit a completed CARE checklist alongside their manuscript. Even if your target journal doesn't require it, completing the checklist demonstrates thoroughness and improves manuscript quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are CARE guidelines?+
Are CARE guidelines mandatory for all journals?+
How is CARE different from STROBE or CONSORT?+
Can I use this checklist for a case series?+
What CARE compliance score do journals expect?+
Where can I find the original CARE guidelines paper?+
Related Resources
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