The TRIPOD-LLM Statement: A Targeted Guideline For Reporting Large Language Models Use

Large Language Models (LLMs) are rapidly being adopted in healthcare, necessitating standardized reporting guidelines. We present TRIPOD-LLM, an extension of the TRIPOD+AI statement, addressing the unique challenges of LLMs in biomedical applications. TRIPOD-LLM provides a comprehensive checklist of 19 main items and 50 subitems, covering key aspects from title to discussion. The guidelines introduce a modular format accommodating various LLM research designs and tasks, with 14 main items and 32 subitems applicable across all categories. Developed through an expedited Delphi process and expert consensus, TRIPOD-LLM emphasizes transparency, human oversight, and task-specific performance reporting. We also introduce an interactive website (https://tripod-llm.vercel.app/) facilitating easy guideline completion and PDF generation for submission. As a living document, TRIPOD-LLM will evolve with the field, aiming to enhance the quality, reproducibility, and clinical applicability of LLM research in healthcare through comprehensive reporting. COIDSB: Editorial, unrelated to this work: Associate Editor of Radiation Oncology, HemOnc.org (no financial compensation); Research funding, unrelated to this work: American Association for Cancer Research; Advisory and consulting, unrelated to this work: MercurialAI. DDF: Editorial, unrelated to this work: Associate Editor of JAMIA, Editorial Board of Scientific Data, Nature; Funding, unrelated to this work: the intramural research program at the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. JWG: Editorial, unrelated to this work: Editorial Board of Radiology: Artificial Intelligence, British Journal of Radiology AI journal and NEJM AI. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest.