Keeping Cochrane Reviews up-to-date in response to new evidence, feedback, and methodology is a responsibility for authors and Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs). An updated version will be based substantially on the previous version of the published Cochrane Review. Authors must consider the following when considering this option.
- Cochrane Reviews should be updated in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR). Any decision to co-publish an updated Cochrane Review in a journal must involve discussion with both the CRG and Cochrane Editorial and Methods Department.
- The co-publication of any updated Cochrane Review must be substantially different to any previous co-publication of the same Cochrane Review (e.g. the conclusions are different).
- The editor of the journal may consider the publication to be redundant (duplicate) publication, that is, “publication of a paper that overlaps substantially with one already published in print or electronic media” (ICMJE recommendations on overlapping publications; accessed accessed 22 August 2018).
- Authors of published Cochrane Reviews have granted Cochrane an exclusive licence for publication for the Cochrane Review, and the journal editor needs to be aware of this.
For permission to co-publish an updated version of a Cochrane Review, please contact the Managing Editor of your CRG, using the ‘Permission to co-publish’ form ; your case may be referred to the EMD for further guidance. The guidance given in the section "Co-publication process" should also be followed.