Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01968-2 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Factors associated with Quality of Care in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases:
A view from patient´s side using the IQCARO Quality of Care Decalogue
Version: 
0 
Date: 
15 May 2021
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript is a cross sectional study based on a QoC questionnaire
administered to IBD patients during a period of 3 months. 938 patients from
different IBD units completed the questionnaire consisting in 27 questions; first
questionnaire included 17 questions about demographic and clinical
characteristics as well as major IBD outcomes.The second questionnaire
included the 10 indicators from the IQCARO-QoC decalogue previously
developed by IBD patients and published by the authors.
1-As the authors pointed out in discussion, one major limitation of the study is
the design itself, 
precluding any cause-effect interpretation and analysis of the
associations decribed. 
2-Another important limitation is the impossibility to determine a response rate,
due to the multiple dissemination strategies of the survey. This limitation is part
of the STROBE criteria but is not mentioned in the manuscript.
3-There are a few questions in the first part of the survey 
that I find hard to be
precisely replied by the patients (e.i. severity of disease, disease control in the
previous 2 weeks, numebr of bed in the center [?] As stated in the table 3)
4-The fact that the survey was anonimous preclude any further contact or
verification on the IBD unit of care. Would 
not be possible, in fact, to contact the
patients or centre in the future and re-administer the survey.
Minor:
1- List of questions administered on the first part of the survey is not 
available.
2-There is a word repetition on page 5 line 58
3- The authors outlined the importance that the IQCARO-QoC was designed by
the patients, but the is no similar information 
regarding other questionnaires or
PROMs cited in the manuscript.
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
No
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes