The EQUATOR Network grew out as part of spin-off projects generated after the work initiated by the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials group and other guideline development groups to alleviate the problems arising from inadequate reporting of randomized controlled trials and other types of health research studies.

[4] The group founded by Douglas Altman whilst at the University of Oxford planned a program that would develop online resources and training to encourage the use of reporting guidelines in scientific publishing in the health area[5][6] to improve the quality of reporting of health research studies, identifying key stakeholders engaged in these activities and networking with them.

[7] Participants at this meeting were reporting guidelines developers, journal editors, peer reviewers, medical writers and research funders.

The meeting served as a venue to exchange experiences among participants in developing, using and implementing reporting guidelines and prioritize the main activities that were necessary for the successful start of the EQUATOR Network's efforts.

In that meeting, the results of a study by Iveta Simera, Douglas Altman, David Moher, Kenneth Schulz and John Hoey, were presented, and published two years later.