October 2021 (next issue December 2021)

In this issue

1. Cochrane’s Methods Symposium on public health evidence synthesis and complex interventions.
2. Brand-new, eight-part qualitative evidence synthesis webinar series. 
3. Upcoming webinars and events for World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day 2021 and Bias Methods Group's annual meetings.
4. New resources including 'first-look' chapters from the new version of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy, Cochrane methods guidance in Russian, an introduction to prospective meta-analysis, and guidance for systematic review authors on how to consider the individual and the population perspective. 
5. And much more!

Your top highlights

1) Cochrane’s Methods Symposium on public health evidence synthesis and complex interventions

Over 250 people joined us for session 1 to discuss evidence synthesis in public health, with talks on the importance of preparing and planning and using different types of evidence, such as non-randomised studies of interventions, qualitative evidence, modelling studies and evidence maps for equity considerations. You can catch up on these talks before session 2 (18 October), which includes talks on describing complex interventions, using different types of evidence to inform guideline development, and communicating evidence to decision makers and end users. Session 1 recordings and session 2 registration available here. Share on social media that you’re going using #CochraneMethodsSymp!

2) Launching a brand-new, qualitative evidence synthesis webinar series

The Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group and Cochrane Training are launching an eight-part Learning Live webinar series, which starts on 28 October with an introduction to qualitative research and qualitative evidence synthesis. Full details and how to register are here. 

Events and opportunities

Upcoming

18 October 2021: Session 2 of the Cochrane Methods Symposium on public health evidence synthesis and complex interventions. Open to all, free to attend. #CochraneMethodsSymp

20 October 2021: World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day 2021: the role of evidence in an infodemic #WorldEBHCday #EvidenceFirst

28 October 2021: Bias Methods Group are hosting a themed session (part of their annual meetings) on risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions. Open to all, free to attend.

28 October 2021: Introduction to qualitative research and qualitative evidence synthesis hosted by Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group. Open to all, free to attend.

15 November 2021: Question formulation and searching for qualitative evidence hosted by Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group. Open to all, free to attend.

17 November 2021: Bias Methods Group are hosting a second meeting (part of their annual meetings) with presentations on recent methodological research related to bias. Open to all, free to attend.

13 December 2021: Selecting studies and assessing methodological limitations hosted by Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group. Open to all, free to attend.

20 January 2022: Making sense of Framework and Best Fit Framework synthesis hosted by Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group. Open to all, free to attend.

Can you help out on methods-related tasks? Browse TaskExchange to see what other opportunities are available (make sure to filter by your specific skills). For more information on how to sign up and use the platform, please see these instructions.

New resources

• Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy (version 2), led by the Screening and Diagnostic Test Methods Group, launched the fourth and fifth chapters. Available for individual Cochrane members for personal use only, Cochrane account required for access. New chapters includes Chapter 3 (Evaluating diagnostic tests) and Chapter 11 (Undertaking meta-analysis).
• Cochrane methods guidance in Russian launched.
• Introduction to prospective meta-analysis hosted by Prospective Meta-Analysis Methods Group. Recording now available.
• Guidance for systematic review authors on how to consider the individual and the population perspective. Recording now available.

Other news

1) ‘A day with…’: New virtual events to connect and learn from Cochrane Methods Groups.

2) Cancellation of Cochrane Colloquium - Toronto 2022.

3) Cochrane Back and Neck Group published one of Cochrane’s largest reviews to date (249 included trials) and has led to new ways of working collaboratively and with an increased focus on research integrity (lead author also from Prognosis Methods Group).