EQUATOR Network: Standards for Reporting Health Research
Enhancing QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research Network and Standards · Also known as: EQUATOR, reporting guidelines, PRISMA, CONSORT, STROBE
EQUATOR (Enhancing QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) is a global network that develops, endorses, and promotes reporting guidelines for health and life sciences research. Founded in 2006 and hosted by the University of Oxford, EQUATOR maintains a library of 500+ guidelines covering study designs (randomized trials, observational studies, systematic reviews, case reports, qualitative research, etc.). Major guidelines include CONSORT (randomized controlled trials), STROBE (observational studies), PRISMA (systematic reviews and meta-analyses), and CARE (case reports). These guidelines specify which items must be reported and how to report them, reducing inconsistency and enabling readers to assess study validity. Many journals now require adherence to relevant EQUATOR guidelines.
Read the full method
Sign in with a free account to read this section.
Method map
The neighbourhood of related methods — select a node to explore.
When to use it
Use EQUATOR guidelines for all primary research (trials, observational studies, qualitative research, case reports) and for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Major journals in medicine, nursing, public health, psychology, and allied health now endorse EQUATOR guidelines. Check your target journal's author guidelines; most will reference the relevant guideline. If guidelines are not explicitly required, using them demonstrates rigor and improves chances of acceptance. Preprints and open-access platforms increasingly request EQUATOR compliance. International registries for trials (ClinicalTrials.gov) and systematic reviews (PROSPERO) also reference EQUATOR guidelines.
Strengths & limitations
- Standardization: guidelines ensure consistent reporting across journals and studies, enabling comparison and synthesis.
- Transparency: guidelines mandate reporting of methodological details that reveal bias risk (e.g., allocation concealment, reasons for dropouts).
- Improves quality: studies reporting to guidelines show lower bias; authors must address key methodological items, improving rigor.
- Facilitates systematic reviews: consistent reporting across primary studies enables systematic reviewers to extract data and assess quality using a standard framework.
- Supports evidence synthesis: adherence to guidelines enables meta-analyses; non-adherent papers are often excluded due to missing data.
- Guideline proliferation: with 500+ guidelines, choosing the correct one is sometimes difficult; some guidelines are better established than others.
- Space constraints: comprehensive reporting of all guideline items may exceed journal word limits; supplementary materials are then required.
- Complexity: guidelines require knowledge of methodological terminology (e.g., 'allocation concealment,' 'intention-to-treat analysis'); authors must educate themselves.
- Cultural variation: some guidelines are more widely adopted in certain regions (CONSORT is universal; some newer guidelines are less established).
- Enforcement: many journals list EQUATOR guidelines but do not enforce compliance; authors may submit non-compliant manuscripts without penalty.
Frequently asked
Where do I find the correct guideline for my study?
Visit equator-network.org and use the 'Search Guidelines' tool. Enter your study type (e.g., 'randomized controlled trial,' 'observational cohort study') and the site will list relevant guidelines. Most guidelines have been adapted for specific study types (e.g., CONSORT has extensions for cluster trials, non-pharmacological interventions, herbal interventions). Download the full guideline (includes explanation and examples) and the checklist.
Is submitting the completed checklist mandatory?
Depends on the journal. Some journals require the completed checklist (check author guidelines). Others recommend it but do not require it. Best practice: always complete the checklist and submit it with your manuscript or include it as a supplementary file. Some journals include the checklist in the peer review process; reviewers will note any missing items.
Can I use one guideline for studies with mixed designs (e.g., a trial with embedded qualitative component)?
Use the primary guideline for your main design, plus supplementary guidelines for secondary components. For example, a trial with qualitative interviews would use CONSORT + COREQ (Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative research). Check EQUATOR for extensions and combinations.
What if my study does not fit neatly into a guideline category?
EQUATOR has guidelines for many designs: RCTs, observational studies, qualitative research, diagnostic accuracy, prognostic models, systematic reviews, case reports, animal studies, network meta-analyses, implementation science, etc. If your design is not listed, consult the EQUATOR website or contact EQUATOR directly. Use the guideline for your primary design and adapt as needed.
Can I use EQUATOR guidelines for a preprint or non-journal publication?
Yes. Guidelines are useful for any research communication: preprints (arXiv, bioRxiv, medRxiv), open-access repositories, institutional repositories, and dissertations. Adherence to guidelines increases clarity and credibility regardless of publication venue.
Sources
- Moher, D., Altman, D. G., Schulz, K. F., Simera, I., & Wager, E. (2012). Guidelines for reporting health research: A user's manual. British Medical Journal, 345, e5997. link ↗
- EQUATOR Network (2023). Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research. Retrieved from https://www.equator-network.org/ link ↗
- Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. British Medical Journal, 372, n71. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n71 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Enhancing QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research Network and Standards. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/academic-writing/equator-network
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- IMRaD StructureAcademic Writing↔ compare
- Journal Submission ProcessAcademic Writing↔ compare
- Scientific Writing ClarityAcademic Writing↔ compare
- Statistical Reporting StandardsAcademic Writing↔ compare