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Welcome to the October Core Staff digest. In this edition, we cover encouraging authors to switch to the new review format in RevMan, upcoming webinars and news on the Cochrane US Mentoring Program. We hope you find it helpful.
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Contents - Encourage authors to switch to the focused review format in RevMan now!
- Starting new reviews and updates
- New Cochrane Learning webinar series on Cochrane rapid reviews
- New guidance on reporting ROBINS-I: Web clinic recording available
- Next Methods Support Unit Web Clinic: Dealing with rare events in Cochrane reviews
- Presentations of the 2023 Methods Symposium are now available
- Evidence Synthesis Unit Pilot applications - drop-in sessions to ask your questions
- Cochrane US Mentoring Program starts Year 3
- Three new Cochrane-Campbell Handbook for Qualitative Evidence Synthesis chapters are now available
- Accepted proposals for new reviews and updates
- Wellbeing
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1. Encourage authors to switch to the focused review format in RevMan now!
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If you are supporting authors with a submission deadline after 1 January 2024, now is the time to enable our focused review format. Key benefits of the focused review format: - Authors and readers can focus on a concise article presenting the review's main findings
- Data and information that enhance the main findings are available in a package of supplementary materials
- Cochrane Reviews are shorter, quicker to write and edit, and easier to read, understand and share
We have step-by-step guidance on writing concise Cochrane Reviews in the focused review format - Direct authors to the Cochrane Review template - authors should open the template as a practice review in RevMan
- If you are checking authors' drafts before submission to Central Editorial Service, check each section in the review follows the template
- Submissions which follow the template guidance are less likely to need major revisions, and will move more quickly through editorial and production
Questions about the focused review format or template? Contact support@cochrane.org.
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2. Starting new reviews and updates
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We have an online proposal pathway in Editorial Manager for all requests to begin new reviews and updates. - If your group wants to begin a new protocol or update, use our new, short ‘pre-approved’ proposal form. This form is for use by group staff and asks for key information (title, author byline) only. Prospective authors complete the full proposal form. Read instructions on sending in pre-approved proposals.
All authors of accepted proposals receive an invitation to submit their completed draft to Central Editorial Service. Topic experts in the Cochrane community assess all proposals. Many of you help with this, and we are grateful for your expert input. If you would like to help consider proposals in your topic area, please email Cochrane Support.
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3. New Cochrane Learning webinar series on Cochrane rapid reviews
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This webinar series is designed to provide you with a clear roadmap, helping you navigate the intricacies of rapid review methodologies. Whether you're a researcher, a healthcare professional, or anyone who relies on evidence to make informed decisions, these webinars can be helpful for you. Led by leading experts in this field, you can find out more and register for free here.
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4. New guidance on reporting ROBINS-I: Web clinic recording available
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The Risk of Bias In Non-randomised Studies – of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool allows authors to evaluate the risk of bias in the results of non-randomised studies that compare the effects of interventions (NRSI). The ROBINS-I tool was originally developed by members of the Cochrane Bias Methods Group and the Cochrane Non-Randomised Studies Methods Group. In this web clinic, Dr Kerry Dwan introduced new guidance to help Cochrane authors and editors plan for the use of ROBINS-I in their protocol and report the results in their review.
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5. Next Methods Support Unit Web Clinic: Dealing with rare events in Cochrane reviews
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The next MSU web clinic will take place on Thursday November 9th at 9am UTC: presenter is Afroditi Kanellopoulou, Statistics Editor in MSU. Rare events are a common problem in Cochrane reviews, especially for secondary and safety outcomes. In the presence of rare events, standard meta-analytical models have important limitations and may lead to biased results. The objective of this web clinic is to provide guidance on handling rare events in a Cochrane review, present the properties of the inverse variance method and explain why this method is problematic when outcome data are rare. Afroditi will explain the advantages of one-stage meta-analysis models over two-stage models and will go through the assumptions and the properties of some of these models. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. Sign up here.
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6. Presentations of the 2023 Methods Symposium are now available
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Our 2023 Methods Symposium allowed attendees to learn from Cochrane experts and industry leaders and connect with like-minded professionals. Slides of the main presentations for session #1 (Facilitating review and data reuse across the research ecosystem) and session #2 (Equity in evidence synthesis) are now available for public consultation on Cochrane's Methods website.
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7. Evidence Synthesis Unit Pilot applications - drop-in sessions to ask your questions
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8. Cochrane US Mentoring Program starts Year 3
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We are thrilled to announce and welcome our newest cohort of mentees and mentors for Year 3 of the Cochrane US Mentoring Program. 28 mentees from 18 countries and 17 mentors from 8 countries join us this year. The mentoring program is a 12-month virtual program that includes group and one-on-one mentoring, networking events, trainings, and the opportunity to work on or complete a project or product in collaboration with Cochrane researchers. Additional events and involvement in Cochrane is offered and encouraged. The program's main objective is to serve and include minority, under-resourced, and/or historically discriminated against participants to contribute to Cochrane's goal of improving health equity through access and availability to trusted health evidence for all. Anyone worldwide is welcome to apply, and to date we have received over 500 applications and served 63 mentees. Our volunteer mentors are greatly appreciated, along with other Cochranites who provide myriad in-kind opportunities, trainings, and workshops. Do you have an opportunity you'd like to share? Please contact us to get involved! Read more here and help us welcome Y3.
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9. Three new Cochrane-Campbell Handbook for Qualitative Evidence Synthesis chapters are now available
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Please check the Cochrane Training Website for the new Cochrane-Campbell Handbook for Qualitative Evidence Synthesis chapters, available for personal use via a Cochrane Account: Chapter 4 (Developing and using Logic Models), Chapter 11 (Conducting a Meta-ethnography) and Chapter 18 (Conducting a Qualitative Comparative Analysis). Don't have an account? Set one up for free here.
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10. Accepted proposals for new reviews and updates
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View proposals accepted from 19 September to 18 October 2023. In this period 17 proposals were accepted. Author teams of 7 accepted proposals are being supported by a group and 10 author teams are working independently. This information will be updated monthly.
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Cochrane Book Club The Cochrane Book Club meets on the last Wednesday of the month. It is a no pressure, fun, friendly 30 minute chat to discover some great reading recommendations. Contact Muriah for more information and a calendar invite. You can also join the CET books Slack channel.
Need some positive news? Check out the winning Wildlife Photographer of the Year images and these things to try to boost wellbeing in November.
Have good wellbeing advice or mood boosting tips? Add them to the CET Wellbeing Slack channel or let us know.
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