The Cochrane Musculoskeletal Review Group has several members who represent the consumers’ viewpoint in deciding which reviews are done, what questions are focused on, and how results are presented. Within the group, consumers have already fulfilled some of the following specific roles and responsibilities:

I. CORE FUNCTIONS

• To bring a Patient/Consumer Perspective to the Review Process

• To bring Cochrane Reviews to Consumers

  • Assist with peer reviewing of protocols and systematic reviews

  • Produce lay summaries of all systematic reviews completed by CMSG

  • Disseminate lay summaries to patients/consumers

  • Consult interested organizations to determine their review priorities

  • Participate in producing one or more systematic reviews

    II. FUNCTIONS IN SUPPORT OF CMSG

• Recruit new members to the Consumer Group

• Promote financial support and public interest in CMSG

• Help write, edit and translate the CMSG newsletter and other materials

  The following documents will provide you with some insights into consumer involvement in the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group.

• One Consumer's Viewpoint
  A note from Rebecca Coghlans, Perth, W Australia.

• "Consumer Representation on the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Review Group"
  Summary of a presentation at the 6th International Cochrane Colloquium.

• Considering the Colloquium
  Ann Qualman was the former Consumer Group Coordinator for CMSG. She attended the 2001 Cochrane Colloquium held in Lyon, France and came away with new perspective on the different roles of consumers both within the Cochrane Consumer Network and the collaborative review groups.