The Cochrane Collaboration website has a detailed list of training resources for interested authors. Please click here to visit the site.
CMSG Information Packages
For help through the process of writing a review, the CMSG has developed information packages for each step of the process.
- Introduction and Registering a Title
- Writing a Protocol
- Writing a Review
- Publishing and Maintaining a Review
- Updating a Review
- Review Manager - RevMan 5
RevMan is the Cochrane Collaboration's program for preparing and maintaining Cochrane reviews. Further information, including an FAQ on RevMan is available from the Cochrane Collaboration site. The following items are available for downloading - RevMan software and installation instructions
- RevMan self-training guides
Review Author's Handbook
The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions is the official document that describes in detail the process of creating Cochrane systematic Reviews. It can be viewed online, as part of the Cochrane library or under the help menu in RevMan 5.
Methods guidance specific to CMSG authors
These papers are designed to help review authors make decisions throughout the review process:
Method guidelines for Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group systematic reviews. Maxwell L, Santesso N, Tugwell PS, Wells GA, Judd M, Buchbinder R and the Editorial Board of the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group. Journal of Rheumatology 2006; 33:2304-11.
Knowledge Transfer to Clinicians and Consumers by the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group. Santesso N, Maxwell L, Tugwell PS, Wells GA, O'Connor AM, Judd M, Buchbinder R, and the Editorial Board of the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group. Journal of Rheumatology 2006;33:2312-8.
Reporting Guidelines
The CONSORT Statement: Information about reporting Randomized Controlled Trials.
The PRISMA Statement: Information about the preferred reporting items in systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
The STROBE Statement: Information about reporting observational studies.
The EQUATOR Network: A collection of reporting guidelines for health research.
Cochrane Collaboration open learning material for reviewers
On-line and in PDF format at http://www.cochrane-net.org/openlearning/
This material is designed to help train reviewers in the methods and processes of performing a Cochrane review. It includes information about the formulation of appropriate questions, literature-searching, critical appraisal, statistical analysis and interpretation and application of findings. This material should be used in conjunction with the Cochrane Handbook.
The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for assessing the quality of nonrandomised studies in meta-analyses
Powerpoint presentation, manual and scale available at: http://www.ohri.ca/programs/clinical_epidemiology/oxford.htm
Nonrandomised studies, including case-control and cohort studies, can be challenging to implement and conduct. Assessment of the quality of such studies is essential for a proper understanding of nonrandomised studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) is an ongoing collaboration between the Universities of Newcastle, Australia and Ottawa, Canada. It was developed to assess the quality of nonrandomised studies with its design, content and ease of use directed to the task of incorporating the quality assessments in the interpretation of meta-analytic results.
Disease Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire
Modified MACTAR
An ongoing challenge regarding the measurement of disability in patients with arthritis is alleviated by the use of the McMaster Toronto Arthritis (MACTAR) Patient Preference Disability Questionnaire. The MACTAR scale is a functional priority questionnaire intended to identify small clinically significant changes in an individual due to arthritis. This scale also quantifies the disability's relative importance to the patient.
Meta-analysis for Beginners
This powerpoint presentation by George Wells explains how to perform and interpret a meta-analysis.
Beyond RevMan: Meta-Regression Analysis in Context
This pdf presentation by Robin Christensen explains how to perform and interpret a meta-regression analysis.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM):