Key PointsQuestionDoes asking peer reviewers to check whether specific reporting guideline items were adequately reported improve the reporting quality in published articles?FindingsTwo randomized trials were conducted in collaboration with publishing journals. Results from 421 randomly assigned manuscripts (intervention: asking peer reviewers to check specific reporting items; control: usual journal practice) did not indicate any improvement in the reporting quality when peer reviewers were asked to check whether specific reporting guideline items were adequately reported.MeaningThese findings indicate that reminding peer reviewers of specific reporting items is not useful in increasing reporting completeness in published articles.