Resources for review authors

Getting involved as a Review Author

If you have expertise in anaesthesia or intensive care, then consider joining the Cochrane Anaesthesia Review Group (CARG). CARG can provide you with support, resources and training to help you write a systematic review; and an international audience when your work is published in The Cochrane Library.

All Cochrane systematic reviews are first registered as titles. Those titles must conform to Cochrane standards: an intervention for a health-care problem. Your proposed title must not duplicate any work already published or registered with the Cochrane Collaboration. Once your title is accepted and registered, you then write the protocol (which states what you plan to do and how you plan to do it). Once your protocol is published you are expected to write the review. Please remember, Cochrane reviews must be updated every two years (or sooner in response to comments and criticisms).

In general authors either approach us with an idea for a title or decide to take on one of our available titles.  We advise that each review team is comprised of at least two authors (preferably three) to independently extract data. We ask that that each review team has access to independent statistical help and that at least one of the authors is experienced in either writing systematic reviews or performing randomized controlled trials.

To start the systematic review first you need to contact our Trials Search Co-ordinator <karen_hovhannes doesnotexist@cochrane.org yahoo.com> for the Title Registration Form. We also advise that you look at CARGs  Tips for Authors which contains detailed step-by-step instructions on how to write a Cochrane systematic review.  For more information please contact our Review Group Co-ordinator and Managing Editor Jane Cracknel <jane_cracknell doesnotexist@cochrane.org yahoo.com>l.

Additional information

• Methods used in the reviews
  
• Editorial process
  
• Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions - the official guide to producing Cochrane reviews
  
• RevMan homepage - documentation and support for software for preparing and maintaining Cochrane reviews
  
• Cochrane Style Resource - compare your Cochrane Review against the official style guide
  
• Using Individual Patient Data - Power Point slides
  
• Re-publishing of reviews - explanation of procedures and permission form if you wish to re-publish your review in another scientific journal
  
• QUOROM statement checklist (PDF document). A checklist of items which systematic review authors can address in their review to assure readers of the reliabiliy of the review's findings

Training - face-to-face

• Contact Cochrane Centres or Review Groups about local workshops and courses in review production. Some of these events are listed on the Cochrane workshops page.

Training - online

• Open Learning Materials - learn the steps in convenient online modules which supplement the Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook in helping you gain skills and complete your review.

Training resources provided by other organizations:

• Undertaking Systematic Reviews of Research on Effectiveness - an extensive guide by the NHS Centre for Reviews & Dissemination