August 2022 (next issue October 2022)

In this issue

1) Recordings available from the methods forum on the future of evidence synthesis in Cochrane.

2) Apply now for Convenor, Associate Convenor and early-career-researcher intern positions in the Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group.

3) Upcoming events and opportunities to get involved in, including webinars on GRADEing and searching.

4) New resources including webinar recordings and published guidance. 

5) And much more!

Your top highlights

1) Methods forum on the future of evidence synthesis in Cochrane

We hosted a webinar to answer questions from the methods community related to the changes underway in Cochrane. Questions discussed included the future of Methods Groups, methods involvement in review production and editorial processes, and methods community engagement. Recordings available via the links and if you would like to share additional feedback, please use this webform.

2) Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group seeks new Convenors, Associate Convenors and early-career-researcher interns

The Group is looking to increase its capacity to support the launch of a new Cochrane and Campbell Handbook for Qualitative Evidence Synthesis with opportunities for experienced, mid- and early-career researchers. Apply by 30 September 2022. Full details here.

Events and opportunities

Upcoming

8 September: Cochrane Methods Support Unit web clinic with a focus on what makes a good discussion section. For Cochrane authors, editors and staff, free to attend.

13 September: Updated GRADE guidance for imprecision rating using a minimally contextualised approach with the GRADEing Methods Group. Open to all, free to attend.

21 September: Searching clinical trial registers, a guide for systematic reviews, with the Prospective Meta-Analysis Methods Group. Open to all, free to attend.

13 October: Cochrane Methods Support Unit web clinic with a focus on interpretation of subgroup analysis. For Cochrane authors, editors and staff, free to attend.

20 October: World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day. 

10 November: Cochrane Methods Support Unit web clinic with a focus on the development of materials to facilitate presentation and statistical synthesis when data are not amendable to meta-analysis (with Statistics Methods Group). For Cochrane authors, editors and staff, free to attend.

8 December: Cochrane Methods Support Unit web clinic with a focus on writing background sections. For Cochrane authors, editors and staff, free to attend.

Can you help with methods-related tasks? Browse TaskExchange for opportunities (tip! Filter by your specific skills). For more information on signing up and using the platform, see the instructions.

New resources

1) A new approach to evaluating loop inconsistency in network meta-analysis. Recording now available.

2) Cochrane Methods Support Unit web clinics with a focus on preferred and accepted risk of bias tools for non-randomised studies of interventions and writing up reviews with network meta-analysis. Recording now available.

4) Rapid evidence syntheses for COVID-19 research. Recording now available.

5) Interpreting results of network meta-analyses: the GRADE minimally contextualised approach with the GRADEing Methods Group. Recording now available.

6) The Comparing Multiple Interventions Methods Group shares new reporting guidelines for overviews of reviews of healthcare interventions (PRIOR statement).