This is a web version of a series of emails sent to authors. Other emails in the series:

Your Cochrane Review: start here / Cochrane Learning: free to review authors! / Research Integrity: be aware of Conflict of Interest

Cochrane Methods Support: online guidance and live web clinics / Your Review: involving patients and the public / Sharing Cochrane evidence: plan ahead!

Ready to submit your protocol? Read this first!

We hope that drafting your protocol is progressing well, and your manuscript is nearing completion. Before you submit your protocol, please check your manuscript meets Cochrane requirements:

STEP 1: open the Cochrane review template as a practice review in RevMan. Compare each section of your manuscript with the reporting guidance in the template.
- The template is for intervention reviews, but information in many sections is relevant to all review types. If you are not writing an intervention review, you can also check the PRISMA website for any extension that might be relevant for your review.

STEP 2: Download and complete a pre-submission checklist for your protocol.
- The checklist highlights key sections in RevMan and explains essential information to include. You will also find guidance on Cochrane policies with which you must comply.

Before you submit, it's particularly important to confirm you and your team comply with Cochrane’s Conflict of interest policy. Read the Conflict of interest quick guide for authors and confirm no authors have prohibited conflicts of interest. You will be asked to declare any relevant interests after submission.

If you are the Corresponding Author for the protocol, you will have received an invitation to submit your protocol to Editorial Manager, with instructions on how to submit.

Following successful submission, all authors will receive an acknowledgement of receipt, and a request to complete your Declaration of Interest in relation to this review. The Managing Editor for your submission will then be in touch with editorial and/or peer reviewer comments.

Don’t hesitate to contact Cochrane Support with any technical issues or general queries as you complete your protocol.

Best wishes,

Cochrane Central Editorial Service

The Cochrane Collaboration, a charity (no. 1045921) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 03044323) registered in England & Wales.