How to support EQUATOR

By supporting the EQUATOR Network's effort and by promoting the use of its resources you can significantly contribute to the wider implementation of reporting guidelines.

The EQUATOR Network aims to improve the reliability and value of health research literature by promoting responsible research reporting and the use of reporting guidelines for health research studies.

By supporting the EQUATOR Network's effort and by promoting the use of its resources you can significantly contribute to the wider implementation of robust reporting guidelines and to the increased reliability of health research literature.

Reporting guidelines are relatively new phenomenon but the evidence of their positive influence on the quality of published research reports is already emerging.  

Only support on a wide scale can generate meaningful change in people's behaviour as seen recently with quick adoption of clinical trials registration requirements. 

How can I actively support the EQUATOR Network's effort?

Journals:

    • Link to the EQUATOR Network website in your 'Instructions to Authors'
    • Alert authors to the available guidelines and motivate their use:
      • clearly describe the purpose of reporting guidelines "" they are to help authors to include all important information about their research, which can increase the probability of their manuscript being published and enhance the value of their research to clinicians and other researchers
      • provide clear instructions how you expect authors to use appropriate guidelines, including a clear statement of the degree of compliance with relevant guidelines that is expected; ambiguous instructions won't encourage adherence
      • link to the appropriate guidelines, through the EQUATOR or guideline website as these provide the current version, and make checklists available to download
    • Alert your peer reviewers to the available reporting guidelines and ask them to consider relevant guidelines / checklists during their manuscript assessment
    • Share your knowledge about reporting guidelines and EQUATOR Network with your editor colleagues, and consider subscribing to the EQUATOR Newsletter alerting you to the new developments in health research reporting and available education and training courses

    Editorial organisations:

    • Provide reference to the EQUATOR Network on your website
    • Inform your members about the existence of the EQUATOR and its resources

    Research funding organisations:

    • Request accurate and transparent reporting of the project you fund by stating this requirement in conditions of providing funds
    • Refer to the EQUATOR Network and its resources on your website

    Other organisations:

    • Promote and support accurate and transparent reporting of health research studies
    • Refer to the EQUATOR Network and its resources on your website

    Reporting guidelines developers:

    • Let us know about your guideline or plans for the guideline development or update

    Authors of research articles (researchers, clinicians, medical writers, etc.):

    • Find out about reporting requirements when planning your research study (e.g. some journals recommend authors to read the CONSORT Statement when planning randomised trial even before starting participants' recruitment)
    • When writing up your research, check the EQUATOR website for any new relevant guidelines
    • Adhere to the relevant reporting guideline(s); when not reporting on certain items explain why. Remember that reporting guidelines provide a minimum set of items; other details specific to your particular study might be relevant for a clear and complete account of what was done and found (consider in particular items that might have introduced bias into your research). It is important to provide enough information to allow your study being potentially reproducible by others
    • Alert your colleagues, students and other collaborators to the EQUATOR website

    Please express your support and allow us to put the name of your organisation on a list of our endorsers.

    Organisations endorsing EQUATOR

    See a list of organisations (journals, editorial groups, etc.) that endorse the EQUATOR Network.


    Page last edited: 10 April 2012