What y'all need to know about the new Cochrane Handbook

This post was originally published on the Cochrane Methods website on ane October 2019

We are delighted to announce the launch of the brand-new edition of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Version 6). Later noun updates since the first published edition by Julian Higgins and Emerge Green in 2008, Version 6 is at present freely bachelor online via the Cochrane website and in printed book form, which tin can be purchased from the Wiley website.

We would not have been able to produce this Handbook without the expertise and commitment of individuals from our Methods Groups and methods community. We would like to thank the team of over one hundred authors, editors and chapter peer reviewers for completing this major slice of work. We particularly want to give thanks the central Handbook editorial team, Senior Scientific Editors Julian Higgins and James Thomas, Associate Scientific Editors Jackie Chandler, Miranda Cumpston, Tianjing Li, Matt Page, Vivian Welch, and Laura Mellor, our Editorial Assistant.

Overview of the new Handbook

Version 6 has been revised to reflect current best practice in review methodology and includes updated guidance that will exist widely applicative. The new edition of the Handbook is divided into four parts: The first function (available only online) addresses issues specific to undertaking systematic reviews within Cochrane; the second part describes the core methods applicative to systematic reviews of interventions, from framing the question through to interpreting the results; the third part provides considerations for tackling systematic reviews from unlike perspectives, such as when thinking about specific populations, or complex interventions, or detail types of outcomes; and the 4th function covers a range of further topics, including prospective approaches, non-randomised studies and individual participant data.

How can I find out more?

Below we have compiled a list of the fundamental resources and references that complement the launch of the new Handbook:

  • The Handbook editors will publish an Editorial in the Cochrane Library (coming soon!).
  • Cochrane released a news post announcing the Handbook with quotes from Senior Scientific Editor, Professor Julian Higgins, and Editor in Main of the Cochrane Library, Dr Karla Soares-Weiser.
  • A 'What's New' leaflet has been created to highlight fundamental updates in the new Handbook, and considerations that Cochrane Review Groups may need to take in lodge to address the methods contained.
  • The Methodological Expectations for Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR) has been updated to reverberate the new Handbook and introduce new MECIR authors (of the 75 Carry Standards, merely 10 Standards changed in terms of scientific content or recommendations of 'mandatory' vs. 'highly desirable': C14, C15, C23, C52, C55, C59, C60, C72, C74 and C75).

The 2019 Cochrane Colloquium will be a key avenue for dissemination of the methods detailed in the Handbook. For those attending, the following will be of item interest:

  • 2019 Methods Symposium on Monday 21 October 2019 at xiv:00-17:00: This year's Methods Symposium will examine whether our protocols continue to provide the route map nosotros need to navigate a modern Cochrane review. It will showcase updated material from the new Handbook and will address aspects of pre-specification from various methodological perspectives (make sure to register!).
  • Cochrane and circuitous reviews: methodological advances in the new Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions on Thursday 24 Oct, xiv:00-xv:thirty: This Special Session will provide an overview of the new Handbook, followed by presentations cartoon on key new chapters, presented by their atomic number 82 authors.
  • Embracing Methodological Diverseness (Plenary Session) on Th 24 October 2019, 09:00-10:30: This Plenary will showcase how Cochrane is adopting and endorsing increasing methodological variety within its reviews and will include a launch announcement for the new Handbook.
  • Also look out for the core methods training workshops from the Cochrane Methods Groups.

Requests to translate

With the launch of the new Handbook, we have already begun receiving requests to translate. As part of Cochrane'south multi-lingual delivery and aim to increase capacity and bear upon in not-English speaking countries, we accept begun defining the process for translating Cochrane's methods guidance. Given the very large size and technically challenging content, the process highlights that translation teams begin by translating the Methodological Expectations for Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR), which are besides embedded within the new Handbook. Total details on the process tin can exist establish here.

What next?

The previous version of the Handbook sold ix 1000 copies and has been cited over twoscore,000 times (co-ordinate to Google Scholar), and we know that this version will continue to be the go-to resource for Cochrane review teams and the wider community.

To facilitate the dissemination of the Handbook, nosotros accept developed an implementation plan, which is also being discussed with the Cochrane Review Group (CRG) Networks and other primal stakeholders, to ensure review teams take the resources in place to use the guidance in the new Handbook.

If anyone has whatsoever questions or is unsure on whatever of the aspects of implementation, please contact methods@cochrane.org.