Issue 17, August 2024

Welcome to the Author Digest

We hope you find it helpful.

This digest goes 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.

Contents

1. Preparing a protocol or review for submission? Complete a pre-submission checklist
2. New Summary of Findings tables Q&A sessions
3. Writing a Cochrane abstract in the focused review format: Sign-up open
4. Successful Data Management with Covidence and RevMan
5. Global Evidence Summit 2024
6. Top tips
   

1. Preparing a protocol or review for submission? Complete a pre-submission checklist

Before you submit your manuscript to Cochrane Central Editorial Service, please download and complete a pre-submission checklist. These checklists are designed to help you meet our submission requirements. They highlight essential information to include with your submission, and policies with which you must comply.

We recommend you download a checklist at least 4 weeks before your submission deadline. This will give you time to address any points in the checklist which you may have missed. If you need an extension to your submission deadline after reviewing the checklist, please contact support@cochrane.org.

From 1 October 2024, it will be mandatory to upload a completed pre-submission checklist alongside your manuscript, when submitting your first draft to Editorial Manager.

2. New Summary of Findings tables Q&A sessions

Questions about putting together your Summary of Findings tables? Cochrane Methods are launching a new series of online Q&A sessions led by Professor Holger Schünemann from the Cochrane GRADEing Group. Questions relating to the structure and content of Summary of Findings tables, or to GRADE methods can be submitted in advance and will be discussed during the session. 

The first session will be held on October 23rd 2024 at 1.30pm London time. Please email Rachel Richardson (rrichardson@cochrane.org) with your question before Thursday 17th October for it to be included.

3. Writing a Cochrane abstract in the focused review format: Sign-up open

Sign-up is now open for the next Methods Support Unit web clinic presented by Lindsay Robertson, which will be held on Wednesday 4th September at 8am UTC. As Cochrane abstracts are often the only part of a Cochrane review that people read, it is important they can be read as stand alone documents. 

In this web clinic, Lindsay will cover the general principles of writing an abstract that is clear, easy to understand, and translate. The specific requirements of the new focused review format and the PRISMA checklist will also be covered. The session is of interest to authors and editors. The recording of the session will be sent to everyone who signs up, so don’t worry if you can’t attend on the day!

4. Successful Data Management with Covidence and RevMan

Are you an author of a systematic review planning to do meta-analyses? 

Join us at the Global Evidence Summit, where we’ll demonstrate the interoperability between Covidence and RevMan. Discover how our ‘once and done’ approach to data extraction enables automatic analysis generation and a seamless workflow from study data to evidence summaries. 

We look forward to meeting you - stop by our booth (B5) in the exhibitors area and explore how we can support your review journey.

5. Global Evidence Summit 2024

The Global Evidence Summit provides a crucial platform to address vital issues across sectors, while showcasing the incredible methods and work of Cochrane. Let's unite for #GES2024 and contribute to advancing evidence-based practice globally.

• Visit the GES website
• Explore the full programme
• Registration is still open
• Top tips from the Cochrane Community
• Join the Anne Anderson Walk

6. Top tips for Cochrane Authors

Do you want to know more about including figures in Cochrane Reviews?

Read our author guidelines for useful information on how figures should be presented in Cochrane Reviews, and how to use an external repository for additional figures. The RevMan Knowledge Base also contains step-by-step instructions for adding different types of figures in RevMan.

Contact us

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