The EQUATOR Network and reporting guidelines: Helping to achieve high standards in reporting health research studies

Abstract

Poorly reported research seriously undermines the usability of reported findings and misleads clinicians, researchers, policy makers and, ultimately, patients. Guidelines for reporting health research are available but they are not widely used. The EQUATOR Network is an international initiative that aims to systematically tackle the problems of poor reporting. The main goals of the EQUATOR Network are to improve the clarity, completeness and transparency of scientific publications by providing resources and education relating to the reporting of health research and assisting in the development, dissemination and implementation of robust reporting guidelines.