The points listed below outline the process for co-publishing a Cochrane Review in another journal. The first contact for any query should be the Managing Editor of the CRG. The Managing Editor may (and, in some circumstances, must) refer the case for advice to the Cochrane Editorial and Methods Department (EMD); please contact emd@cochrane.org and ensure that the subject line of your email clearly states “Co-publication query”.
1. For all instances of co-publication, the authors should approach the CRG’s Managing Editor using the ‘Permission to co-publish' form.
2. If the authors propose publishing an abridged version in a journal:
a. before publication in the CDSR (prior publication) – the CRG will refer the case to the EMD for permission.
b. at the same time as publication in the CDSR (simultaneous publication) – the CRG will refer the case to the EMD for permission, or simply inform the EMD if there is an existing co-publication agreement with the journal.
c. after publication in the CDSR (post-publication) but either the journal has not yet signed a Cochrane co-publication agreement (check the list in the section "Agreements between journals and CDSR") or if the journal is a high-profile journals – the CRG will refer the case to the EMD for permission. The EMD will consult with the CRG, the authors, and the journal, as necessary. The EMD will ask Wiley to ensure that the journal signs a Cochrane co-publication agreement and that permission is granted to the author. The EMD will inform the CRG of the decision, and the CRG will communicate the decision to the author.
d. after publication in the CDSR (post-publication) AND the journal has already signed a Cochrane co-publication agreement (check the list in the section "Agreements between journals and CDSR") – the CRG can grant permission to the author and do not need to refer to the EMD. The CRG will ensure that the EMD is aware of each permission granted by sending a copy of the completed ‘Permission to co-publish’ form to the EMD.
3. All co-publishing journals will be asked to sign a Cochrane co-publication agreement with Wiley. This can be a one-off agreement or an agreement to co-publish over a period of time (i.e. it does not need to be signed by the journal for each abridged review). All journals that have already signed the agreement to co-publish over a period of time are listed in the section check the list in the section "Agreements between journals and CDSR". If the journal has not yet signed an agreement the EMD will instruct Wiley to ensure that an agreement is signed (in advance of submission to the journal as far as possible).
4. When submitting an abridged version of a Cochrane Review to a journal (or enquiring about submission in the case of prior or simultaneous publication), the author must make a complete statement to the journal editor to say that the article is based on a Cochrane Review (published or in progress).
5. The journal version must faithfully reflect the data and interpretations of the Cochrane version. Where journal editing and peer review have resulted in differences in the data or interpretation, these should be discussed with the CRG, and, where appropriate, incorporated into a revised version of the Cochrane Review at the next available opportunity, and with appropriate acknowledgement to the journal’s peer reviewers/editors.
6. The title of the journal version should indicate that it is a secondary publication (complete republication, abridged republication, complete translation, or abridged translation) of the Cochrane Review, preferably by including 'Cochrane Review' or 'Cochrane Systematic Review' in the title.
7. The support of the CRG in publishing the Cochrane Review should be acknowledged in an appropriate place in the journal version (e.g. in the Acknowledgements section).
8. The Cochrane Review must be cited in the reference list of the journal version.
a. A footnote should be placed on the title page of the journal version to inform readers and documenting agencies that the paper has been published previously, either in whole or in part, citing the primary publication (CDSR); for example: “This article is based on a Cochrane Review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) YYYY, Issue X, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD00xxxx (see www.cochranelibrary.com for information). Cochrane Reviews are regularly updated as new evidence emerges and in response to feedback, and the CDSR should be consulted for the most recent version of the review.”
b. The Cochrane Review published in the CDSR should reference the journal version in the section ‘Other published versions of this review’ as soon as possible after publication of the journal version or when in press.
Workflow for co-publishing Cochrane Reviews (including updates) in other journals
The co-publication process