The EQUATOR Network website – the new resource centre for good research
reporting
http://www.equator-network.org/


We are pleased to announce a launch of the new website providing resources
for good reporting of health research. The resources are aimed at
researchers (authors of research articles), journal editors, peer reviewers,
and developers of reporting guidelines.

The most important website feature is a collection of reporting guidelines
that includes:
- CONSORT Statement (for reporting randomised controlled trials)
- QUOROM, recently renamed PRISMA (for reporting systematic reviews and
meta-analyses of randomised trials)
- STROBE Statement (for reporting observational studies in epidemiology)
- STARD Statement (for reporting diagnostic accuracy studies)
- and many other guidelines identified through extensive literature searches

The website will be continually developed to provide up-to-date published
and in-house developed resources facilitating good research reporting and
the development of robust reporting guidelines:
- reporting guidelines
- tools facilitating the use of reporting guidelines
- educational materials and training courses relating to the use of
reporting guidelines
- relevant methodology literature 
- guidance for the development of robust reporting guidelines
The available resources will be tailored to meet the needs of our main user
groups.

The website was developed as part of the EQUATOR Network project in
collaboration with Minervation, a web design group specializing in knowledge
management in evidence-based health care. 
For more information about the EQUATOR Network please see below or visit our
website http://www.equator-network.org/

We hope you will find our initiative and resources useful. 

We will be delighted to receive your comments on the website. We also
welcome any information about interesting projects or publications relating
to research reporting.

We look forward to hearing from you.
With best wishes on behalf of the EQUATOR Steering Group, 


Iveta Simera
The EQUATOR Network Project Manager
[log in to unmask] 



Information about the EQUATOR Network

There is a wealth of evidence that much published health research is
reported poorly. The EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency
Of health Research) is a new quality improvement initiative that seeks to
improve the quality and reliability of the health research literature by
promoting transparent and accurate reporting through the use of reporting
guidelines. 
Reporting guidelines specify the minimum information necessary for a clear
account of research methodology and findings. Use of reporting guidelines
can lead to improved accuracy and clarity of publications; it facilitates
appraisal for research quality and relevance, and can improve the efficiency
of literature searches and ability to find requested information. During the
last ten years a considerable number of guidelines have been developed for
reporting health research. Although good quality guidelines exist they are
still not widely used and implemented and their benefit is not being fully
realised.

The EQUATOR Network plans to remedy this situation and become a recognised
global centre providing resources and training relating to the reporting of
health research and assisting in the development, dissemination and
implementation of reporting guidelines. 

Key deliverables will include:
* Web-based Resource Centre with easy access to reporting guidelines and
other relevant information; 
* Support for the development of robust reporting guidelines; 
* Training courses for authors, editors and peer reviewers, facilitating
transparent and accurate reporting and use of reporting guidelines; 
* Annual assessment of how journals implement reporting guidelines; 
* Annual audit of reporting quality across the health research literature. 

The project is being led by Professor Doug Altman, one of the key movers of
the CONSORT initiative. The EQUATOR Network international steering group
includes leading experts in the field of health research methodology,
reporting and editorial work:
* Prof Doug Altman, Director, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Oxford, UK 
* Dr John Hoey, Advisor to the Principal on Public Health, Queen's
University, Kingston, Canada 
* Dr David Moher, Director, Chalmers Research Group, Ottawa, Canada 
* Dr Ken Schulz, Vice president, Quantitative Sciences, Family Health
International, USA 

Funding 
The initial funding for the project was provided by the UK NHS National
Knowledge Service for which we are immensely grateful. However, in order to
have any meaningful impact on the quality of reporting of research
publications we need to secure more funds from different organisation.
Funding opportunities for various EQUATOR activities are outlined on our
website. 
For more information please visit http://www.equator-network.org/ 


Please feel free to link to the EQUATOR site from your website to facilitate
use of our resources.