<p>There is mounting evidence that the quality of reporting results of medical and nursing studies in various fields, including paediatrics, acute stroke, clinical pharmacology and intensive care medicine, is sub-optimal (Bath et al 1998, Krzyzanowska et al 2004, Latronico et al 2002, Mills et al 2004). Further, our experiences as statistical reviewers of several nursing and medical journals also indicate that the problems persist, with substantial variations between submissions in and between journals. The ethics of inappropriate use and reporting of statistics have been discussed by Altman on various occasions (Altman 1980a, Altman 1980b, Altman 1981).</p>