The EQUATOR network and website

Abstract

The quality, reliability and reporting of research is a subject that is regularly raised in the pages of Evidence-based Dentistry. We have constantly sought to highlight the various guidelines available to guide researchers when reporting their research and, consequently, it is pleasing to be able to bring to readers' attention a new group, the EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research). This 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.These guidelines specify the minimum information necessary for a clear account of research methods and findings. Use of reporting guidelines can lead to improved accuracy and clarity of publications and facilitate appraisal of research quality and relevance. It can also improve the efficiency of literature searches and the ability to find information. During the last 10 years, a considerable number of guidelines have been developed for reporting health research. As in areas other than dentistry, although good-quality reporting guidelines exist, they are still not widely used and implemented and their benefits are not, therefore, being fully realised.The EQUATOR Network aims to remedy this situation and become a recognised global centre that provides resources and training relating to the reporting of health research, and assist in the development, dissemination and implementation of reporting guidelines. The work is being led by Professor Doug Altman, who earlier this year was presented with the Council of Science Editors Annual Award for Meritorious Achievement for his work to improve the standards of reporting of clinical research. Professor Altman is Director of the Centre for Statistics in Medicine at the University of Oxford, UK, and is one of the leading experts in the field of health research methodology, statistics and reporting. He is one of the key movers in the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) initiative.The EQUATOR Network has an international steering group which, in addition to Professor Altman, includes leading experts in the field of health research methodology, reporting and editorial work. The network plans to develop: • a 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; • an annual assessment of how journals implement reporting guidelines;• an annual audit of reporting quality across the health research literature.

A systematic scoping review of adherence to reporting guidelines in health care literature

“…There is a paucity of systematic reviews that assess the quality of reporting of clinical studies across different clinical areas, and that use different reporting guidelines. The EQUATOR (Enhancing Quality and Transparency in Health Research) network is an international initiative that supports the development and dissemination of such guidelines 11. The EQUATOR website provides guidelines for the minimum information required to report research methods and findings for various kinds of medical research 12…”

Reliability and validity of MINCIR scale for methodological quality in dental therapy research

“…Indeed, quality decreases as a function of the number and severity of biases in planning, implementation, and presentation. 1,2,3 Several grading systems or level of evidence (LoE) ranking rubrics have been developed to differentiate among studies of differing quality, such as the Sackett and the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) system. 1 In addition, reading/writing checklists that identify particular items and pieces of information that are necessary for reports to be conDeclaration of Interests: The authors certify that they have no commercial or associative interest that represents a conflict of interest in connection with the manuscript.…”

“…2 Research can also be evaluated with the use of instruments that employ methodological quality (MQ) scales, such as the Jadad, PEDro, and MIN-CIR, which consider internal and external validity.…”

Reporting quality of papers published in Chilean dental journals. Evaluation period: 2002-2012.

“…Authors, reviewers and editors should make efforts to ensure that future papers published in Chilean journals include the necessary methodological elements to assess their internal and external validity. A useful guide with recommendations is available on the Equator-Network website 5,6 .…”

“…For this reason, there have been agreements about what are the minimum elements that a scientific publication in the clinical and epidemiological fields should contain. The current agreements are collected in an international, multidisciplinary initiative called Equator-Network, which gathers and organizes the recommendations for the elements and aspects that must be reported in several types of studies 5,6 , clinical trials 7 , observational studies 8 and case reports 9 , among others.…”