Research Methods & Reporting CONSORT-Equity 2017 extension and elaboration for better reporting of health equity in randomised trials

Summary points

• The CONSORT statement provides a minimum set of 25 items to be reported with rationale and exemplars for all randomised trials

• A multidisciplinary team used a consensus approach to develop CONSORT-Equity 2017, an extended CONSORT reporting guideline for better design and reporting of randomised trials where equity is relevant

• CONSORT-Equity 2017 extends 16 items of the CONSORT statement and adds a new item on ethical concerns for transparently reporting information relevant to assessment of effects on health equity

• The use of the CONSORT-Equity 2017 guideline will improve reporting of health equity in randomised trials and thereby facilitate greater use of this information in decision making