ENLIGHT: A consensus checklist for reporting laboratory-based studies on the non-visual effects of light in humans
Manuel Spitschan, Laura Kervezee, Renske Lok, Elise M. McGlashan, Raymond P. Najjar, Annette E. Allen, Marilyne Andersen, Salvador Bará, Peter Blattner, Christine Blume, Diane B. Boivin, María‐Ángeles Bonmatí‐Carrión, Kai Broszio, Timothy M. Brown, Sarah L. Chellappa, Jeanne F. Duffy, Taisuke Eto, Erin E. Flynn‐Evans, Steve Fotios, Virginie Gabel, Corrado Garbazza, Gena Glickman, Marijke C. M. Gordijn, John P. Hanifin, Lauren E. Hartstein, Michael Herf, Shigekazu Higuchi, Cassie J. Hilditch, Kevin W. Houser, Anya Hurlbert, Monique K. LeBourgeois, Steven W. Lockley, Robert J. Lucas, Cláudia Roberta de Castro Moreno, Mirjam Münch, Ludovic S. Mure, Stuart N. Peirson, Shadab A. Rahman, Victoria L. Revell, Roberto Rodríguez, Kathryn A. Roecklein, A.V. Rukmini, John Sammarco, Nayantara Santhi, Luc J. M. Schlangen, Isabel Schöllhorn, Katherine M. Sharkey, Debra J. Skene, Tracey L. Sletten, K.C.H.J. Smolders, Oliver Stefani, J. Stone, Petteri Teikari, Michael Terman, Khanh Tran Quoc, Kazuo Tsubota, Ljiljana Udovičić, Gilles Vandewalle, Jennifer A. Veitch, CélineVetter, Lisa M. Wu, Johannes Zauner, Jamie M. Zeitzer
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on reporting light characteristics in studies investigating non-visual responses to light. This project aimed to develop a reporting checklist for laboratory-based investigations on the impact of light on non-visual physiology. METHODS: A four-step modified Delphi process (three questionnaire-based feedback rounds and one face-to-face group discussion) involving international experts was conducted to reach consensus on the items to be included in the checklist. Following the consensus process, the resulting checklist was tested in a pilot phase with independent experts. FINDINGS: An initial list of 61 items related to reporting light-based interventions was condensed to a final checklist containing 25 items, based upon consensus among experts (final n = 60). Nine items were deemed necessary to report regardless of research question or context. A description of each item is provided in the accompanying Explanation and Elaboration (E&E) document. The independent pilot testing phase led to minor textual clarifications in the checklist and E&E document. INTERPRETATION: The ENLIGHT Checklist is the first consensus-based checklist for documenting and reporting ocular light-based interventions for human studies. The implementation of the checklist will enhance the impact of light-based research by ensuring comprehensive documentation, enhancing reproducibility, and enabling data aggregation across studies. FUNDING: Network of European Institutes for Advanced Study (NETIAS) Constructive Advanced Thinking (CAT) programme; Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship (Wellcome Trust, 204686/Z/16/Z); Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development VENI fellowship (2020-09150161910128); U.S. Department of Defense Grant (W81XWH-16-1-0223); National University of Singapore (NUHSRO/2022/038/Startup/08); and National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF2022-THE004-0002).