Cochrane review template


Focused review format

From 3 June 2024, all protocols, reviews and updates in RevMan have the focused review format enabled by default. This applies to all review types. No data or text is lost in RevMan when the focused review format is enabled.

If your protocol, review or update was submitted for editorial assessment before 3 June 2024, or is being supported by the Methods Support Unit, it will not switch to the focused review format at this stage. Your submission will remain in the current format through to publication. For these exceptions, the focused review format will be enabled after either publication or a reject decision. 


Review template

NEW! We have a recommended template for intervention reviews in the focused review format. 

Create your personal copy of the template as a practice review in RevMan. (Hold down Ctrl + click the button below to open the practice review in a new tab.)

Click on the title to open the template in RevMan. 

Your copy of the template will be available for 30 days. Come back here at any time to recreate a copy!

The template will be continuously updated to reflect best practice. Always open the template as a practice review in RevMan to ensure you are always viewing the latest version. 

How to use the template

Cochrane's intervention review template contains essential guidance on conducting your review and reporting your findings. This guidance is relevant to all authors of protocols, reviews and updates using the focused review format.

Open the template in RevMan alongside your own protocol, review or update. See Split the screen. Check that each section of your work follows the template. 

Suggested timepoints for checking your work against the template guidance:

  • As you begin your protocol
  • After protocol/review publication, as you begin your review or update
  • As you write up your results in your review or update
  • Before submitting your protocol, review or update to Cochrane Central Editorial Service

You can copy useful content into your own protocol, review or update as needed.

If your protocol was created after 21 September 2023, the template guidance will be visible as default text in each section of your review in RevMan. As you draft your protocol and review, you will gradually overwrite the guidance with your own work. But don't worry, you can create a copy of the template as a practice review at any time, to check you are following the guidance. 

Prototype review

NEW! We have a prototype review for intervention reviews using focused review format. This is a best practice example of a submission which you can use for guidance.

Create your personal copy of the prototype review as a practice review in RevMan. (Hold down Ctrl + click to open the practice review in a new tab.)

References

You can import our standard references into your protocol or review. See Import additional references.