Cochrane author information resources
For links to online training, webinars, workshops and presentations for authors, see Cochrane training.
These resources are useful at all stages of planning and writing a review:
- Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (2nd Edition) - the official guide to producing a Cochrane review
- RevMan web - documentation and support for the new Cochrane software for preparing and maintaining Cochrane reviews
- Cochrane Style Manual - compare your Cochrane Review against the complete official style guide
- Methodological Expectations for Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR): guidelines for the conduct, reporting and plain language summaries of Cochrane reviews
- Risk of bias 2 (RoB 2) tool (for authors using the original tool, see Chapter 8 of the Cochane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (5.1). Login needed).
- A quick guide to the 2020 Conflict of Interest Policy for Cochrane Library Content
- Involving consumers NEW - support for review authors who wish to involve consumers in their Cochrane review
Protocol stage resources
- Author checklist - protocol stage - check that your protocol meets our reporting guidelines before submission
- Cochrane Style Basics - basic style requirements
Review stage resources
- Covidence - the online primary screening and data extraction tool for Cochrane authors, now recommended for all new Cochrane Neuromuscular reviews (not updates). A Cochrane (Archie) login is required.*
- Covidence webinar - a 'walk-through' of Covidence’s features
- Data extraction form for RCTs - on request we can also provide template spreadsheets for extraction of continuous data, dichotomous data, risk of bias information and study characteristics
- Author checklist - review stage - check that your review meets our reporting guidelines before submission
- Good practice and common errors - avoid pitfalls when writing your Cochrane review
- Incorporating GRADE - integrate GRADE findings into your review
- How to write a plain language summary of a Cochrane intervention review
- Common errors - a resource for editors that will also help authors
- Reporting results using GRADE wording
'Summary of findings tables'
Training and publications on using GRADE and creating Summary of findings (SoF) tables are available here.
Essential resources include:
- GRADEpro (GRADEproGDT) software
- Using GRADE and GRADEproGDT - webinar
- Cochrane Interactive Learning - especially modules 7 and 8
- Chapters 11 and 12 of the Cochrane Handbook
- GRADE Handbook
- Common issues in 'Summary of findings' tables and how to address them
- Guidance for 'Summary of findings' table explanations and judgements
Update policy and guidance
- Decision chart - when to update a review
- Author checklist - review stage - MECIR standards also apply to updating a review
- PRISMA flow chart format for updates
Other essential information
- Publishing policies - including:
Other useful information
- Information on publicity and dissemination, including podcasting and social media
- Co-publishing reviews in other journals - see our publishing policy
- Diagnostic test accuracy review guidance http://srdta.cochrane.org/
- CONSORT - reporting of RCTs
- PRISMA (formerly QUOROM) [PDF document] - preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- STROBE - reporting of observational studies in epidemiology
- EQUATOR Network - collection of reporting guidelines