December 2022 (next issue February 2023)

In this issue

1) Cochrane's first open access journal, Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods, open to submissions.

2) Update on Cochrane´s new review format project now available.

3) Cochrane launches a new framework for the engagement and involvement of consumers.

4) Upcoming events and opportunities to get involved include online webinars and Cochrane Web Clinics.

5) Meet Mona Nasser of the Priority Setting Methods Group.

6) New resources include and much more!

Your top three highlights

A new open-access journal for Cochrane: Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods

Cochrane's first open-access journal strengthens Cochrane's ability to meet our stakeholders' needs and publish different types of evidence synthesis beyond systematic reviews. It will also include methods research evaluating how evidence syntheses are planned, produced and disseminated, and research articles on critical areas for evidence synthesis, such as priority setting, consumer involvement, and research integrity. Additional information here.

Update on Cochrane’s new review format project now available

Understand how a shorter format and improved data management will unlock the potential of Cochrane evidence and improve author, editor and user experiences. Recording from the recent webinar is available here.

Cochrane launches a new framework for the engagement and involvement of patients, carers, and the public

Cochrane supports consumer involvement and engagement in health research because it promotes transparency, accountability, and trust in how research is produced. The new framework is a result of significant involvement of stakeholders: a task group, consultations, surveys, prioritisation exercises, and drawing on central strategies and previous work with consumers. Full information here.

Events and opportunities

Upcoming

6 December: 2022 online training program for statistical editors and statisticians supporting Cochrane groups: Meta-analysis of time-to-event data. Open to statistical editors and statisticians supporting Cochrane reviews; registration required.

7 December: Cochrane PaPaS: Trust, Integrity and the Future of Pain Evidence in London, UK. Open to all; registration required.

7-9 December: Systematic reviews and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies online workshop. Open to all; course fee applies.

8 December and 13 December: Future of evidence synthesis webinar: 2022 in review - Cochrane Evidence Production & Methods. Open to all; registration required.

8 December: Cochrane Methods Support Unit Web Clinic: Assessing imprecision and inconsistency in GRADE. Open to Cochrane authors, editors and staff; registration required.

8 December: 2022 online training program for statistical editors and statisticians supporting Cochrane groups: Random-effects meta-analysis methods in RevMan. Open to statistical editors and statisticians supporting Cochrane reviews; registration required.

12 January: Cochrane Methods Support Unit Web Clinic: How to approach writing a Background section. Open to Cochrane authors, editors and staff; registration required.

26 January: Cochrane Learning Live: Performing meta-analyses in the case of very few studies. Open to all; registration required.

9 February: Cochrane Methods Support Unit Web Clinic: Risk of Bias 2: Good practice and common errors. Open to Cochrane authors, editors and staff; registration required

Cochrane is pleased to announce the launch of Cochrane Engage (Formerly Cochrane TaskExchange), Cochrane’s one-stop-shop for those who want to get involved and volunteer in Cochrane. For more information on signing up and using the platform, see the instructions.

New resources

1) Recordings from the Methods Support Unit Web Clinics: A checklist and guide for defining the questions to be addressed in the synthesis of public health intervention reviews available on the Cochrane Training website.

2) Members of Screening and Diagnostic Tests Methods Group introduce Meta-DiSc 2.0, a web application for meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy data, in a new paper published in BMC Medical Research Methodology.

3) Leads of Bias Methods Group are looking for experienced Cochrane authors for user testing a preliminary version of TACIT, a Tool for Addressing Conflicts of Interest in Trials.

4) Members of Prognosis Methods Group identify actionable guidance for Artificial Intelligence prediction model in healthcare in a new publication in Digital Medicine.

5) Members of Rapid Reviews Methods Group explore methods to recover studies falsely excluded during literature screening in a new paper published in Systematic Reviews.

6) Leads of Bias Methods Group and Statistical Methods Group examine changes in the completeness of reporting and frequency of sharing data, analytical code, and other review materials in systematic reviews over time; and factors associated with these changes in a new paper published in The BMJ.

7) Leads of Adverse Effects Methods Group explore social media data for insights into the well-being of UK General Practitioners during the Covid-19 pandemic in a paper published in Health Information and Libraries Journal.

8) Leads of Prognosis Methods Group summarised the study design, modelling strategies, and performance measures reported in studies on clinical prediction models developed using machine learning techniques in a new paper published in Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.

Other news

1) RevMan 5 is being retired on 25 April 2023 and you will not be able to check in or check out Cochrane reviews using RevMan 5 from this date. This enables Cochrane to introduce a new review format in RevMan Web that will include key changes designed to reduce the workload of editors, peer reviewers, and copy editors and improve the author experience. Learn more about RevMan Web here.

2) An international group of systematic reviewers is currently conducting a survey to find out how systematic reviewers prepare, pilot and perform data extraction. They are also interested in thoughts on appropriate methods and research priorities. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. You can enter it here.

3) Researchers from Heinrich Heine University describe in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine a new method to transparently report the living evidence surveillance process between published LSR versions.

4) An international group of researchers developed a new resource for health researchers including systematic reviewers: the LIbrary of Guidance for Health Scientists (LIGHTS).

5) A new blog published in Retraction Watch commented on the retraction of three papers about pain management after Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care group questioned data.

Meet Mona Nasser of the Priority Setting Methods Group

1) What's the aim of the Methods Group and who else is involved? 

The Cochrane Priority Setting Methods Group welcomes people with a special interest in methods for setting research agendas and priorities within and outside of Cochrane. We develop methodological advice on how to prioritise research that can be used by members of Cochrane but also other organisations across the world. The Group is led by Convenors Mona Nasser (UK), Edward Wilson (UK), Roberto D´Amico (Italy), Moni Choudhury (UK), Sumanth Kumbargere Nagraj (India), Prashanti Eachempati (India), Tarang Sharma (Denmark), Seilin Uhm (UK) and myself.

2) What do you do outside of the Methods Group? 

I am a Professor in Clinical Epidemiology and Oral Health Research at the Dental School, University of Plymouth. In addition to being an academic, I am also a freelance visual artist and lead a collective called meta-futurism lab that focuses on re-imagining the future. 

3) What's your favourite thing about Cochrane?

I jokingly say, as an academic, I was raised in Cochrane. I started my research career getting involved with Cochrane and it gave me a solid foundation around the importance of quality of research that I would not have had otherwise. 

4) If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you take and why? 

It might be an unusual response but I would say a book. If I want to survive on the island, I need to learn how to get food, water, etc. If I´m by myself on the island having digital resources isn't useful and a book will always remind me of where I come from as I build a new life on a desert island.

Find out more about the Priority Setting Methods Group:

●    Visit the Methods Group’s website

●    Join by selecting the Methods Group in the Methods Network webform