www.cochrane.org

The Cochrane Collaboration

Janet Wale (Cochrane Consumer Network) mission Cochrane reviews and The Cochrane Librarystructure of the Collaboration

Jordi Pardo Pardo (Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre)diversity

Maryann Napoli (Consumer)efficacy and adverse events in systematic reviews

Jane Cracknell (Review Group Coordinator)editorial base perspective

Andy Oxman (Review Author)types of studies, bias, grading of evidence

Arne Ohlsson (Centre Director)where to from here

Introduction to The Cochrane Collaboration

“It is surely a great criticism of our profession that we have not organised a critical summary, by specialty or subspecialty, adapted periodically, of all relevant randomized controlled trials”.

Archie Cochrane, 1979

The Cochrane Collaboration

The Cochrane Collaboration is an international

organization that aims to help people make well-informed

decisions about health care by preparing, maintaining,

and promoting the accessibility of systematic reviews of

the effects of healthcare interventions.

ie synthesising healthcare evidence (since 1993)

The Cochrane Collaboration

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Full text systematic reviews - ongoing and completed(currently 3,559 reviews and protocols)

Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects Assessments of reviews(currently 4,795 abstracts of non-Cochrane reviews)

Cochrane Central Register of Controlled TrialsBibliographic references of reports of trials(currently 415,918 citations of trials)

Cochrane Database of Methodology ReviewsSystematic reviews of methodology issues(currently 18 reviews and protocols)

The Cochrane Methodology RegisterReferences to methodology studies(currently 5,668 theory and methods related citations)

The Cochrane LibraryIssue 3, 2004

EFFECT OF LONGER-TERM MODEST SALT REDUCTION ON BLOOD PRESSURE

He FJ, MacGregor GA

Date of most recent amendment: 04 February 2004Date of most recent substantive amendment: 06 October 2003

This review should be cited as: He FJ, MacGregor GA. Effect of longer-term modest salt reduction on blood pressure (Cochrane Review). In: The

Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2004. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Cochrane Library

Vitamin D and vitamin D analogues for preventing fractures associated with involutional and post-menopausal osteoporosis

Gillespie WJ, Avenell A, Henry DA, O’Connell DL, Robertson J

This Review should be cited as: Gillespie WJ, Avenell A, Henry DA, O’Connell DL, Robertson J. Vitamin D and vitamin D analogues for preventing fractures associated with involutional and post-menopausal osteoporosis. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2001, Issue 1. This version first published online: 22 January 2001 in Issue 1, 2001.

A B S T R A C TBackgroundDue to their known effects on bone metabolism, vitamin D and related compounds have been proposed for the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures.ObjectivesTo determine the effects of supplementation with Vitamin D or a Vitamin D analogue in the prevention of fractures of the axial and appendicular skeleton in elderly men or women with involutional or post-menopausal osteoporosis.

The Cochrane Collaboration

Some review titles• Water for wound cleansing • Therapeutic touch for healing acute wounds • Removal of nail polish and finger rings to prevent surgical infection • Preoperative fasting for adults to prevent perioperative complications • Gauze and tape and transparent polyurethane dressings for central venous catheters • Topical negative pressure for treating chronic wounds • Beds, mattresses and cushions for pressure sore prevention and treatment • Nutritional interventions for preventing and treating pressure ulcers • Therapeutic ultrasound for pressure sores • Compression for venous leg ulcers • Electromagnetic therapy for treating venous leg ulcers • Intermittent pneumatic compression for treating venous leg ulcers • Laser therapy for venous leg ulcers • Oral zinc for arterial and venous leg ulcers • Pentoxifylline for treating venous leg ulcers • Topical agents or dressings for pain in venous leg ulcers • Patient education for preventing diabetic foot ulceration • Pressure relieving interventions for preventing and treating diabetic foot ulcers

Cochrane Wounds Group

Review Groups

Fields

Consumer Network

Centres

Methods Groups

Steering Group

The Cochrane Collaboration

The Steering Group is The Steering Group is supported by the Secretariat supported by the Secretariat

Louise KitchenerAdministrative Assistant

Jini HetheringtonAdministrator and

Company Secretary

Nick RoyleChief Executive

Officer

Claire AllenDeputy Administrator

Review Groups are composed of persons from around the world who share an interest in developing and maintaining systematic reviews relevant to a particular health area.

coordinated by an editorial team who edit and

assemble completed reviews into modules for inclusion in The Cochrane Library.

Collaborative Review Groups

Acute Respiratory Infections Group Airways AnaesthesiaBack Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer Consumers and Communication Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Drugs and Alcohol Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Epilepsy Eyes and Vision Fertility RegulationGynaecological Cancer Haematological MalignanciesHeartHepato-Biliary HIV/AIDSHypertensionIncontinence Infectious Diseases Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Injuries Lung Cancer Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders Methodology Movement Disorders Multiple SclerosisMusculoskeletal Musculoskeletal Injuries Neonatal Neuromuscular Disease Oral Health Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Peripheral Vascular Diseases Pregnancy and Childbirth Prostatic and Urologic CancersRenal Schizophrenia Sexually Transmitted DiseasesSkin Stroke Tobacco Addiction Upper Gastrointestinal & Pancreatic Diseases Wounds

Collaborative Review Groups (50)

• There should be a clear barrier between the production of Cochrane reviews and any funding from commercial sources with financial interests in the conclusions of Cochrane reviews.

• Thus, sponsorship of a Cochrane review by any commercial source or sources (as defined above) is prohibited.

Policy on Commercial Sponsorship

The Cochrane Collaboration

areas of interest which extend across a number of health problems/specific populationensure that their priorities are reflected in the work of existing CRGs

compile specialized databases to serve their specific needsCancer Network

Child Health Complementary Medicine

Consumer NetworkHealth Care of Older People

Health Promotion and Public HealthNeurological NetworkOccupational Health

Pre-hospital and Emergency Health Primary Health Care

Rehabilitation and Related Therapies Vaccines

from: http://www.cochrane.org

Fields and Networks (12)

composed of individuals with an interest and expertise in the science of systematic reviews

provide advice and support in the development of the methods of systematic reviews

Applicability and Recommendations Campbell-Cochrane Health Economics

Health-Related Quality of Life Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis

Non-Randomised Studies Prospective Meta-Analysis

Qualitative Reporting Bias

Screening and Diagnostic Tests Statistical Methods Group

from: http://www.cochrane.org

Methods Groups (10)

Best research evidence

Patient values

Clinical expertise

EBM

Slide provided by Bernd Richter

Sackett DL, Strauss SE, Richardson WS, Rosenberg W, Haynes RB. Evidence-Based Medicine. Second Edition 2000 - Churchill Livingstone

What is evidence-based medicine?

The Consumer Network works to ensure that the consumer perspective is incorporated into Cochrane systematic reviews

www.cochrane.org/consumers

“…a good systematic review of whatever evidence is available, even in highly uncertain situations, helps make the policymaking process more transparentand the political or commercial considerations more visible.”

Moynihan R. Evaluating Health Services: A Reporter Covers the Science of Research Synthesis, Milbank Memorial Trust 2004;p31.

and identifies context, research needs

Cochrane Reviews in healthcare decision making

•Collaboration

•Building on enthusiasm of individuals

•Avoiding duplication

•Minimizing bias

•Keeping up to date

•Ensuring relevance

•Ensuring access

•Continuous quality improvement

•Continuity

•Enabling wide participation

The Guiding Principles

The Cochrane Collaboration

The 12th Cochrane Colloqium Ottawa