Improving social justice in observational studies

We are seeking your valuable feedback on how to improve reporting of health equity in observational studies by filling in an online survey which will take 15-20 minutes.

We are an international group of scientists, educators, decision-makers, ethicists, funders, and patients. Our goal is to develop guidance on reporting health equity considerations in observational studies to make health equity data more readily available for synthesis and decision-making. We define health inequities as disparities that are avoidable and unfair.

Factors related to health equity are frequently not reported for observational studies. We are using a collaborative research approach (called integrated knowledge translation) to develop an extension to the STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guideline. The STROBE-Equity will allow researchers to report on health equity in observational studies.

Our work started in January 2021 and has two parallel streams: one on research in general, and one on evidence related to Indigenous research. We have assessed available guidance and current reporting of health equity in observational studies. Now, we would like feedback from international stakeholders through an online survey, found  here.

We welcome your participation in this 15-20-minute-long survey. Your participation will support an evidence and consensus-driven process to develop the extension to the reporting guideline (STROBE-Equity). Thank you!

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CIHR-funded, 4 year project led by Drs Vivian Welch, Sarah Funnell, Janet E Jull, and Lawrence C Mbuagbaw to develop an equity extension of the STROBE reporting guideline for observational studies. 

Health inequities can go frequently unreported in observational studies. This international group of scientists, educators, decision-makers, ethicists, funders, and patients, using an integrated knowledge translation approach, proposes to develop an extension to the STROBE (STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology) guideline to deal specifically with these disparities. The project will embed a parallel stream focused on evidence related to Indigenous research. After assessing available guidance for reporting health equity in observational studies and assessing current reporting, they plan to seek international feedback, then conduct an evidence and consensus-driven process to develop a reporting guideline. The project started in January 2021. A series of empirical studies are planned, followed by a consensus meeting, with the final reporting guideline and statement expected in 2024.

See all the project details on the Open Science Framework.

STROBE-Equity Extension on the EQUATOR website