December 2009

We reached a milestone in October with the publication of the 4000th Cochrane review in The Cochrane Library. As well as reflecting lots of hard work and commitment from authors, researchers, editorial staff and funding agencies from around the world, it’s worth acknowledging what this represents - the ongoing synthesis of thousands of studies involving millions of participants and billions of research dollars. The story behind the update of the Cochrane review of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) published in the BMJ last week is a reminder of what’s at stake when commercial interests are involved, and why the sort of rigorous reviews Cochrane publishes are so important.

Ensuring the Collaboration’s collective effort makes a difference to individuals and communities is what we continually need to strive for. The arrival at the start of the year of the Library’s first Editor in Chief sparked a flurry of activity. The new Cochrane Journal Club (see below) is one of the first initiatives aimed at taking the messages from Cochrane reviews to audiences in new ways. In 2010 we can expect to see several enhancements to the presentation of Cochrane reviews and the launch of new products. A major change comes into effect from January when the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews will move to a monthly publication.

In March 2010, the Collaboration’s leadership will meet in Auckland for the annual series of mid-year meetings. To coincide with these meetings, we’re delighted that our NZ Branch colleagues and the NZ Guidelines Group are combining forces to host a symposium ‘Evidence on Trial’ (details below). We are also pleased to announce our training schedule for next year. The Collaboration is looking to extend its training reach by delivering more training online, and we plan to pilot some online sessions during 2010. This is also an opportunity to thank Veronica Pitt who is leaving the Centre after several years at the helm of the training program. Many authors have benefitted from Veronica’s expertise and patience over the years, especially during the intensive review completion weeks, and we’re grateful for her many contributions.

On behalf of everyone at the Australasian Cochrane Centre, we wish all our contributors and supporters a Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2010.


Steve McDonald and Sally Green
Co-Directors
Australasian Cochrane Centre


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2010 Cochrane Symposium, 22 March - Auckland

All roads lead to Auckland in March next year as our New Zealand colleagues host the mid-year meetings of the Cochrane Collaboration.  Coinciding with these meetings, the New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Cochrane Centre along with the New Zealand Guidelines Group will be hosting a one-day symposium Evidence on Trial. This is a great opportunity to listen to internationally renowned experts talk about the effects of evidence on health care in the local and international setting. The Symposium will end with a dinner at the Fale Pasifika on Auckland University's campus. There is a limit of 200 attendees so early registration is recommended.


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Cochrane training in 2010

The 2010 calendar of ACC training workshops is now available, and authors at all levels are invited to come along. For new authors starting on their first review, our paired 'Developing a Protocol for a Systematic Review' and 'Introduction to Analysis' workshops will give you a complete overview of the methods you need. For more experienced authors, our 'Review Completion and Update' workshops combine protected working time with tailored support for those working to complete or update a review. As always, these workshops are offered free of charge to registered Cochrane authors, thanks to funding from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Also keep an eye out for online webinars on a range of issues, coming for the first time in 2010.

For more information about the training program and to register for workshops, visit www.cochrane.org.au/training.

Developing a Protocol and Introduction to Analysis
23-24 March - Auckland, NZ
7-8 June - Melbourne
Week of 21 June (TBC) - Brisbane
8-9 July - Sydney
3-4 August - Adelaide
2-3 December - Sydney

Review Completion and Update
12-16 April - Melbourne
Week of 21 June (TBC) - Brisbane
7 July - Sydney
5 August - Adelaide
15-19 November - Melbourne
1 December - Sydney


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Cochrane Journal Club The perfect tool to help clinicians and researchers present and discuss a paper at a journal club meeting.

Cochrane Journal Club is a new feature that was launched with Issue 4, 2009 of The Cochrane Library as a free, online, monthly publication. Cochrane Journal Club (cochranejournalclub.com) focuses on a recently published Cochrane Review, providing relevant background information and related resources. There is a podcast explaining the key points of the review, discussion questions to help a reader explore the review methods and findings in more detail, and downloadable PowerPoint slides containing key graphs and tables so the Cochrane Review can be used at a Journal Club meeting.  All resources, including the PDF of the Cochrane Review, are free for everyone to access.

Aimed at trainees, researchers and practitioners alike, each Cochrane Journal Club covers a single review of special interest, selected from the hundreds of new and updated reviews published in each issue of The Cochrane Library. It highlights practice-changing findings, controversial conclusions, new methodology, evidence-based methods, and reviews from diverse clinical topics.

Oct 09: Biologics for rheumatoid arthritis: an overview of Cochrane reviews
Nov 09: Surgical excision margins for primary cutaneous melanoma
Dec 09: Minimally invasive synthetic suburethral sling operations for stress urinary incontinence in women

If you take part in a regular journal club, or would simply like a greater understanding of an important Cochrane review, Cochrane Journal Club is the place to start.


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Cochrane Update columns from the Public Health Group

The Journal of Public Health (JPH) and the Cochrane Public Health Group have shared a very productive relationship since early in the Group’s previous life as the Cochrane Health Promotion and Public Health Field.  After several publications in the journal, JPH invited the Group to publish a regular Cochrane Update column in the journal.  The purpose of the column is to keep readers up to date with issues relevant to the generation and synthesis of evidence in public health.

Themes of the articles thus far have included improving the relevance of Cochrane reviews to global public health priorities; the role and theoretical evolution of knowledge translation and exchange in public health; the importance of finding "difficult to locate" studies and the value of handsearching in conducting systematic reviews of public health interventions; and why and how to include cultural, economic and equity considerations in public health reviews.

We also provide a list of recently published reviews and protocols (from all Cochrane Review Groups) of interest to stakeholders in health promotion and public health, at the end of each of our JPH articles. 

To find these articles in JPH, enter ‘Cochrane Update’ in the search box. More recent articles require a subscription to the journal. http://jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org/

Jodie Doyle
Managing Editor
Cochrane Public Health Review Group


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Round up of Cochrane news

Cochrane News The latest edition of Cochrane News (Issue 47, Dec 2009) has just been published and contains the latest news and views from the Collaboration. Featured in this issue are the new Cochrane Journal Club, plans for the launch of Cochrane Web 2.0 and a round-up from the Singapore Colloquium. You can view and download Cochrane News from cochrane.org.

Cochrane Library Summit In December 2008, the Australasian Cochrane Centre hosted a summit in Melbourne with a view to improving the ‘look and feel’ of the Library, maximising its usefulness and ensuring it remains a pivotal resource in facilitating knowledge translation in Australia. The report of the summit is available from cochrane.org.au and summarises the key issues raised and recommendations for action. Many of these recommendations have been picked up by the Editor in Chief and Wiley, and will be reflected in changes to the Library that will be implemented during 2010.

Steering Group Bulletin A summary of some of the key issues discussed by the Steering Group at its meeting in Singapore, including establishing official relations with WHO, implementing recommendations of the Strategic Review and plans to make consumer involvement in the Collaboration as the theme of the next strategic planning session in Auckland in March. You can view and download the Steering Group Bulletin from cochrane.org

Sense about systematic reviews Sense About Science, an independent charitable trust that promotes evidence and scientific reasoning in public discussion, has recently issued a two-page briefing paper on systematic reviews. The briefing using examples and plain language to explain why systematic reviews matter, why choosing studies is based on scientific reasoning, and the role they play in guiding research and policy decisions. The briefing is available from senseaboutscience.org.uk.

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