Version history

Note: The term "Cochrane Reviews" is used to refer to both Cochrane Reviews and protocols for Cochrane Reviews. Policy statements included in this document are highlighted in bold, italic text. In this policy the term "Peer reviewer" describes someone who peer reviews a manuscript (previously referred to as a "Referee") and the term "review author" refers to the author of a Cochrane Review.

Cochrane peer review checklists can be used and modified as needed. It is not a requirement for Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs) to use these checklists, but some sections and statements are mandatory and must be sent to all peer reviewers (see below). These checklists provide a structured series of questions to guide peer reviewers through the process and provide structured peer review feedback. Guided peer review can be especially helpful to less experienced peer reviewers or for people undertaking named peer review.

The following checklists are available:

• External peer review of protocols
• External peer review of reviews
• External peer review of overviews of reviews [protocols]
• External peer review of overviews of reviews [review]
• Consumer review of reviews
• Consumer review of protocols
• Guidance on using the consumer reviewer checklist

• Protocols and reviews of interventions
  • Intervention protocol
  • Intervention review
  • Intervention protocol consumer
  • Intervention review consumer
  • Also see guidance notes for consumer peer reviewers
• Protocols and reviews of overviews of Cochrane Reviews
  
  • Overview protocol
  • Overview review

Mandatory sections and statements that must be sent to peer reviewers

...

• A statement that all information shared with the peer reviewer is confidential.
• A statement that peer reviewer comments may be edited for clarity and consistency with Cochrane standards.
• A statement that acceptance of the invitation to peer review for Cochrane is also taken as consent for peer reviewer details to be stored within the Cochrane peer reviewer database. (Suggestion from Ursula: We could consider updating the PR checklists to include a data protection consent option, e.g. 'By submitting this form, I consent to Cochrane storing my contact details and peer reviewer comments, for the purpose of facilitating the peer review process'?)