Please note: all Cochrane reviews are expected to comply with the Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR) conduct and reporting standards.
Tools, templates and checklists
Title proposal stage
We call for new title proposals periodically. To be informed about the next call for title proposals, ensure you are subscribed to our newsletter.
Before deciding whether you should apply to register a title, please see the following resources:
- FAQs for potential Cochrane Review authors (PDF 140KB)
- Improving the relevance of your review to consumer issues (PDF 124KB)
- Detailed task list for preparing a Cochrane review (PDF 106KB)
Authors may also like to consult our Topic list (PDF 120 KB) and the methodological guides listed below
Protocol stage
- Author's Guide to Protocol Processes (PDF 143KB)
- Protocol Template with Guidance (DOC 94KB)
- Authors' presubmission checklist - Protocol stage (PDF 250KB)
- Rejection of protocols (PDF 101KB)
Review stage
- Author's Guide to Review Processes (PDF 150KB)
- Review Template with Guidance (PDF 360KB)
- Data Extraction Template (Word format) (DOC 289 KB)
- Checklist for consistency between Abstract, Plain Language Summary and Review Conclusions (DOC 82KB)
- Authors' presubmission checklist - Review stage (PDF 294KB)
- Rejection of reviews (PDF 101KB)
Update stage
- Deciding whether to update your Cochrane Review (PDF 198KB) (READ ME FIRST)
- Author's Guide to Updating the Review (DOC 254KB)
- Rejection of updates (PDF 101KB)
Methodological guides for review authors
Authors please note: Selected updated chapters of the Cochrane Handbook are now available. Please use these updated versions where chapters are referred in any of the CCCG resource documents below.
- Cluster randomised controlled trials (PDF 126KB)
- Equity (PDF 137KB)
- Examples of narrative synthesis (PDF 120KB)
- Examples of theoretical models (PDF 139KB)
- Identifying comparisons (PDF 137KB)
- Heterogeneity and subgroup analysis (PDF 181KB)
- Meta-analysis (PDF 174KB)
- Narrative data synthesis and analysis (PDF 155KB)
- Summary of findings (PDF 454KB)
- How to GRADE (PDF 406KB)
- Describing results (PDF 299KB)
- Study Design Guide (PDF 550KB)
- Study Quality Guide (PDF 435KB)
- Purposive sampling in a qualitative evidence review (Weblink, open access)
Intervention and outcome taxonomies
- Ryan R, Santesso N, Lowe D, Hill S, Grimshaw JM, Prictor M, Kaufman C, Cowie G, Taylor M. Interventions to improve safe and effective medicines use by consumers: an overview of systematic reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD007768. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007768.pub3.
- Lowe D, Ryan R, Santesso N, Hill S. Development of a taxonomy of interventions to organise the evidence on consumers' medicines use. Patient Educ Couns. 2011; 85(2):e101-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2010.09.024 (please note: not Open Access)
- Willis N, Hill S, Kaufman J, Lewin S, Kis-Rigo J, Bensaude De Castro Freire S, et al. ‘Communicate to vaccinate’: the development of a taxonomy of communication interventions to improve routine childhood vaccination. BMC International Health and Human Rights. 2013; 13:23. DOI: 10.1186/1472-698X-13-23.
- Kaufman J, Ryan R, Glenton C, Lewin S, Bosch-Capblanch X, Cartier Y, et al. Childhood vaccination communication outcomes unpacked and organized in a taxonomy to facilitate core outcome establishment. J Clin Epidemiol. 2017; DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.02.007.
- Taxonomy of relevant outcomes (PDF 253KB)