CARE Compliance Checker

Audit case report manuscripts against the CARE (CAse REport) 13-item checklist.

Workflow

• Read the full manuscript

• Confirm the manuscript is a case report or small case series

• Walk through each item below

• For each item, assign: Reported / Partial / Missing / N/A

• Quote the relevant manuscript text as evidence

• Output a compliance summary + actionable fixes

CARE Checklist (13 Items)

Topic Section Requirement

1 Title Title The diagnosis or intervention of primary focus followed by the words "case report"

2 Key words Title page 2-5 key words identifying diagnoses or interventions, including "case report"

3a Abstract — Introduction Abstract What is unique about this case and what does it add to the literature?

3b Abstract — Findings Abstract Patient's main concerns and important clinical findings

3c Abstract — Diagnoses/Interventions Abstract Main diagnoses, therapeutic interventions, and outcomes

3d Abstract — Conclusion Abstract Main "take-away" lessons from this case

4 Introduction Introduction Briefly summarise and cite similar previously published cases; state why this case is unique

5 Patient information Case presentation De-identified demographics, main concerns/symptoms, medical/family/psychosocial history (diet, lifestyle, genetics when possible), relevant past interventions with outcomes

6 Clinical findings Case presentation Relevant physical examination findings and significant clinical findings

7 Timeline Case presentation Important dates and times as a figure, table, or narrative (historical and current episode)

8a Diagnostic assessment — Methods Case presentation Diagnostic methods (PE, lab, imaging, questionnaires)

8b Diagnostic assessment — Challenges Case presentation Diagnostic challenges (financial, language/cultural, etc.)

8c Diagnostic assessment — Reasoning Case presentation Diagnostic reasoning including other diagnoses considered (differential diagnosis)

8d Diagnostic assessment — Prognosis Case presentation Prognostic characteristics (e.g., staging) where applicable

9a Therapeutic intervention — Types Case presentation Types of intervention (pharmacologic, surgical, preventive, self-care)

9b Therapeutic intervention — Administration Case presentation Administration details (dosage, strength, duration)

9c Therapeutic intervention — Changes Case presentation Changes in interventions with rationale

10a Follow-up and outcomes — Assessment Results Clinician-assessed and patient-assessed outcomes

10b Follow-up and outcomes — Tests Results Important follow-up test results (positive or negative)

10c Follow-up and outcomes — Adherence Results Intervention adherence and tolerability (how assessed)

10d Follow-up and outcomes — Adverse events Results Adverse and unanticipated events

11a Discussion — Strengths/limitations Discussion Strengths and limitations in the management of this case

11b Discussion — Literature Discussion Relevant medical literature with references

11c Discussion — Rationale Discussion Rationale for conclusions (assessment of possible causes)

11d Discussion — Take-away Discussion Primary "take-away" lessons (without overgeneralizing), in a single paragraph

12 Patient perspective Discussion Patient shares their perspective or experience (when possible)

13 Informed consent Other Patient provided informed consent

Common CARE Gaps

Frequently Missing Fix

Item 1 ("case report" in title) Append ": a case report" to the title

Item 7 (Timeline) Add a timeline figure or table showing key dates

Item 8c (Differential diagnosis) List diagnoses considered and reasoning for final diagnosis

Item 10d (Adverse events) State adverse events explicitly, even if none occurred

Item 12 (Patient perspective) Add a brief patient quote or note that consent for perspective was not obtained

Item 13 (Informed consent) Add a statement about informed consent for publication

Tips for Case Reports

• Timeline figure: A visual timeline dramatically improves readability and is specifically requested by CARE

• "Case report" in title: Reviewers check this first; it's the easiest item to comply with

• Patient perspective: Even one sentence from the patient adds value; if not possible, explain why

• Differential diagnosis: Don't just state the final diagnosis; show your reasoning process

• Avoid overgeneralization: The Discussion should teach lessons from this case without claiming broad applicability

Output Format

CARE Compliance Report Manuscript: [filename]

Summary: X/13 Reported | Y Partial | Z Missing | W N/A

MISSING ITEMS: [Item #] [Topic] — [What's needed]

PARTIAL ITEMS: [Item #] [Topic] — [What's present] → [What's missing]

FULLY REPORTED: [Item #] [Topic] ✓

Related Skills

• /manuscript — Overall manuscript writing and anti-pattern scanning