What Makes a Cochrane Review?A review sets a clearly formulated healthcare question. It then uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select and critically appraise relevant clinical trials (generally randomised controlled trials). The data from the studies is collected and analysed to draw overall conclusions. Statistical methods (meta-analyses) may, or may not, be used to analyse and summarise the findings of the included studies; to determine the size of the effect of the intervention and how likely one is to see that effect (the variability in response). The aim is to reduce bias/prejudice (caused by expectations of an effect). The studies are generally designed to assess the benefits rather than the harms of an intervention, which may be expected to be considerably less frequent, especially in the relatively short designated time period of a randomised clinical trial. Preparing a Cochrane Review Commenting on Healthcare Reviews |