COBWEB Consort-based WEB tool an online writing aid tool for writing a randomized trial report

COBWEB is an interactive, web-based tool designed to improve the completeness and transparency of randomised trial reporting by embedding CONSORT guidance directly into the manuscript drafting process. Authors work within structured templates that mirror CONSORT checklist items, with each item accompanied by summary bullet points and an example of adequate reporting adapted to the study design and intervention type. The tool was developed and evaluated by clinical epidemiology teams and is hosted by the Centre d’épidémiologie Clinique at Hôtel Dieu in Paris.
The website is organised around the core online writing tool, with supporting pages for registration, a quick start guide, terms of service, privacy information and contact details. After registering and logging in, users:

• name a new manuscript and select the template that matches their trial design and intervention (with specific options for some cancer trials)
• are guided through CONSORT items presented as bullet point recommendations with examples of good reporting
• can invite co-authors to review the manuscript, store updated versions and export the latest version as a Word document, with or without the CONSORT items visible.

Templates integrate reporting recommendations from multiple CONSORT sources into a single interface for each trial type, including the main CONSORT statement, its Explanation and Elaboration document, the CONSORT extension for abstracts, the CONSORT extension for harms and design or intervention specific extensions. This reduces the need for authors to consult several separate CONSORT documents when preparing a manuscript. The randomised trial that evaluated COBWEB showed that using the tool increased the completeness of reporting in randomised trial manuscripts compared with not using the tool.
For investigator-initiated clinical studies, COBWEB offers a practical way to apply CONSORT guidance systematically when drafting the first full trial report and reduces the burden of reviewing several CONSORT guidelines. It is particularly useful for teams less familiar with multiple CONSORT extensions or working without extensive editorial support, as it translates checklist items into concrete prompts and examples while producing a formatted, exportable draft suitable for journal submission.