Issue 1, April 2023

Welcome to the first Author digest!

This first issue is going out to all active Cochrane authors and will continue to be sent to authors who are opted in. Please review your communication preferences in your Cochrane account and ensure you are opted in to communications. 

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In this edition, you will find important information about the retirement of RevMan 5, which takes place today. 

We hope you find it helpful.

Contents

1. RevMan 5 retirement
2. Production turnaround times
3. Cochrane's Methods Support Unit: a resource for Authors and Editors
4. Information for authors
5. Top tips for Cochrane authors

1. RevMan 5 retirement

From 25th April, RevMan 5 will no longer be available, having been fully replaced by RevMan Web.

On April 25th UTC 13.00 two key changes will be introduced:

• Study-centric data will be enabled by default for new protocols and reviews (relevant for intervention & rapid reviews)
• Check out to RevMan 5 will be disabled

Check in to RevMan 5 will remain active until May 18th UTC 13:00 to enable reviews that were checked out before April 25th to be checked in.

If you are new to RevMan Web, please explore the RevMan Web knowledge base to learn more about how to get started. You can also learn about using study-centric data management in RevMan Web in upcoming introductory or practical webinars. 

As always, with any questions, please contact support@cochrane.org.

2. Production turnaround times

Due to the high volume of content currently awaiting publication, our production process is currently taking longer than we would wish. The approximate time from acceptance to publication is currently 10-11 weeks. As part of Cochrane's Future of Evidence Synthesis programme, we are committed to optimising production workflows and are exploring different solutions to improve both systems and processes.Reviews linked to funding or other deadlines will be prioritised through the production process, where possible. Please contact your Managing Editor or support@cochrane.org if there are any deadlines to be considered.

You can help accelerate the production process by completing the following checks on submissions awaiting copy edit:

• Are your contact details and affiliations correct in the latest version of the review? If not, please update as needed.
• Have you acquired any potential conflicts since your last Declaration of Interest? Cochrane’s Conflict of Interest Policy requires authors to declare interests just prior to publication. Please contact your Managing Editor if your current interests are not accurately reflected in the "Declarations of Interest" section in the latest version of your review.
• Is the correct open access licence selected? Check the different open access licenses available and contact support@cochrane.org as soon as possible if the incorrect License for Publication type has been assigned.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the current delay. If you would like to provide feedback on our production processes, please contact Ursula Gonthier, Publishing Operations Manager (ugonthier@cochrane.org)

3. Cochrane's Methods Support Unit: a resource for Authors and Editors

Cochrane’s Methods Support Unit (MSU) provides advice and training for authors and editors working on Cochrane reviews.

Training: We run a monthly Web Clinic where expert methodologists and statisticians present on common issues in Cochrane reviews and answer questions from authors and editors. These clinics also feature presentations on emerging methods. Sign-up for future sessions and view recordings of previous clinics here.

Advice: We respond to requests for help with methodological and statistical issues from the Cochrane community. Our focus is on new and complex methods, for example, Network Meta-Analysis and Risk of Bias 2, however, we are happy to advise on any area of Cochrane methodology. 

Please contact Rachel Richardson, MSU Manager (rrichardson@cochrane.org) if you would like our help.

4. Information for authors

5. Top tips for Cochrane authors

With study centric data, authors set up their review’s inclusion criteria and analyses in RevMan in advance (protocol stage) to facilitate data extraction and automatically populate their analyses. It enables authors to work smarter in RevMan. 

Study centric data management is now available as default for new Cochrane reviews. Authors with ongoing protocols should consider using study centric data management given the benefits detailed on the what is study centric data management page of the RevMan Knowledge Base. And for guidance on the steps involved, see: 

1. Setting up your review criteria
2. Entering your study results (including how to import all included study data in RevMan)
3. Creating the analysis

Please do contact Cochrane Support with any questions.

Contact us

If you have any questions about any of the above items, please contact us at support@cochrane.org