Here you can find and download a variety of information and support materials to help you develop your new cochrane review.
How do I go about starting my new review?
Once your protocol has been accepted for pulication, Lynn Hampson, our Trials Search Co-ordinator (lynnh@liverpool.ac.uk), will run a search of our PCG Trials Register and put the search results (references) into your RevMan file and let you know she has done so. You will need to assess all of these trial reports (as included, excluded, or an ongoing studies, or as additional reports of a study). If your protocol stated that you will carry out searching in addition to our search of the PCG Trials Register you will need to run the additional searches yourself and document the full search strategy in your review.
When does my new review need to be completed by?
We will agree a deadline with you for submission of your draft review, usually within 12 months of the protocol being published. If we do not receive your review within two years of the protocol first being published we will withdraw your protocol from publication in The Cochrane Library and de-register the title, in line with Cochrane Collaboration policy. It is important to keep in touch with us about the progress you are making on your review.
How do I access my RevMan5 file to work on my review?
All reviews must be developed using RevMan5 and accessed through checking your RevMan file in/out of ‘Archie’, the Cochrane Collaboration’s central server for managing and storing documents and contact details. You should check out the file from within RevMan5. See the IMS web page for Cochrane authors for more information about using Archie and RevMan.
Cochrane Handbook and the Cochrane Style Guide
It is important that you read the IMS web page for Cochrane authors where you can keep up to date with author information. You will also find a link to the latest Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions which is the official document that describes in details the process of preparing and maintaining Cochrane systematic reviews. Cochrane reviews should also follow the style described in the Cochrane Style Guide. The 'Related Resources' sidebar on this page explains how you can find examples of our reviews in The Cochrane Library.
I don't have access to The Cochrane Library, what should I do?
Please contact Frances Kellie (f.kellie@liverpool.ac.uk).
Where do I find out about training workshops and other sources of support?
Please register for the appropriate Cochrane training workshops as soon as possible to help you develop your new or updated review. It is also important that you make contact with the Cochrane Reference Centre in your region to enquire about the support they can offer you as a Cochrane author and to register on training workshops to help you prepare your review. If you are an author based in the UK or Ireland you can also access the online learning resources for undertaking a systematic review.
Other important resources to download
- Author’s checklist for new reviews – this contains the items that you should check before you electronically submit your review for editorial and peer review through Archie.
- The Editorial Process – this outlines our group’s editorial process.
- Editor’s checklist – this is the list of points against which the Editor for your review will assess the draft that you submit for editorial approval.
- Statistical checklist - this is the list of points against which our statistician will assess your draft review when you submit it for editorial approval.
- Methods – the standards methods text for our reviews.
- An example of a data extraction template for you to adapt as required
- PCG Methodological Guidelines – must be read in conjunction with the Cochrane Handbook.
Additional information
Cochrane Collaboration - for general information about the Cochrane Collaboration.
Eligibility criteria - please remember that if a study meets your inclusion criteria for your review, but does not report on the outcomes of interest, the trial must be included (although it will not contribute any data to your review). Trial eligibility criteria are prespecified in your protocol in the sections on 'participants', 'interventions' and 'comparisions'. See section 5.1.2 of the Cochrane Handbook for more information.
