Data package user guide

Cochrane reviews

All published Cochrane reviews of any type must include the data package. This is generated automatically by RevMan as supplementary material.

Further information is available in the Data reuse policy in the Cochrane Library.

The review data package is available in the Cochrane Library to download for reviews going into production from April 25th 2023. The same data can be exported from any review that you have access to in RevMan using the export feature and you can generate a data package from a RevMan 5 file using the Conversion service. 

The data package specification page describes the structure of all the files for all versions of the data package. This page describes what type of data is included to inform which files are most relevant for your use. 

If you have access to download the data package in the Cochrane Library, you are free to use it for any purpose you wish but the data package was specifically designed to support the following use cases:  

  • Create reviews, Import or paste study characteristics and analysis data to explore it in RevMan.
  • Access and analyse data in other tools:
    • Create guidelines in GRADEpro GDT.
    • Analyse data in statistical tools such as R or STATA.
    • Explore references for studies in a review.

What type of data is included in the data package?

Information about the data package version is provided in CD######-data-package-info.html.

Analysis data

File type

File name

Description

Review type

Overall estimates and settings (CSV)

CD######-overall-estimates-and-settings

This file includes overall estimates and settings for all analyses. 

Synthesis PICOs (experimental intervention, control intervention, intervention group, outcome, subgroup and filter criteria) are included for analyses using the study-centric data feature.

Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology 

Analysis data rows (CSV)

CD######-data-rows

This file includes individual data rows (all the rows in all the analyses).

For reviews using risk of bias 2, the risk of bias data is included in this file. 

Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy

Subgroup estimates (CSV)

CD######-subgroup-estimates

This file includes subgroup estimates for all subgroups.  

Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative Methodology 

Parameters (CSV)

CD######-parameters

This file includes HSROC or Bivariate parameters for each analysis.

Diagnostic Test Accuracy

Analysis data  (JSON)

CD######-analysis-data

This file includes all analysis data and some settings for graphs.

Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy

Study data

File type

File name


Review type

Study information (CSV)

CD######-study-information

This file includes information on which studies exist, study identifiers, study-characteristics and covariates. Covariates only exist in reviews using the study-centric data feature. 

All, (Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy, Overviews)

Study arms (CSV)

CD######-study-arms

This file includes study arms and the interventions mapped to the arms for each included study.

This file only exist in reviews using the study-centric data feature

Intervention

Study results (CSV)

CD######-study-results

This file includes outcome results for all studies. 

This file only exist in reviews using the study-centric data feature.   

 Intervention

Risk of bias (CSV)

CD######-risk-of-bias

Risk of bias judgments and support for judgments for each result. 

Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy 

References for all categories of studies (RIS)

CD######-included

CD######-excluded

CD######-ongoing

CD######-awaiting


In separate files all references to studies in RIS format with study identifier tag NS. 

  • Included studies

  • Excluded studies

  • Studies awaiting classification

  • Ongoing studies

Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy 

Study data (JSON)

CD######-study-data (for included studies)

CD######-excluded-study-data

CD######-awaiting-study-data

CD######-ongoing-study-data

All study data in a structured format. 

  • Included studies

  • Excluded studies

  • Studies awaiting classification

  • Ongoing studies

Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy 

Study test data

CD######-study-test-data

This file includes test data and covariates. 

Diagnostic Test Accuracy

Other references

File type

File name

Description

Review type

Additional references (RIS)

CD######-additionalAll additional references in RIS format. All (Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy, Overviews)

References for other published versions (RIS)

CD######-other-published-versionsAll references to other published versions in RIS format.All (Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy, Overview)

References for classification pending (RIS)

CD######-classification-pendingAll references for references not yet  classified.All (Intervention, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy, Overview)

Example data packages

Intervention reviews 

Review with risk of bias 1 

Review with risk of bias 2 data & automatic analyses - 

Review with risk of bias 2 data & manual analyses -

Prognosis review

Qualitative review

Methodology review

Diagnostic Test Accuracy review

Overview

Do you have ideas on how we could improve the data package?

We are keen to hear if you have use cases that could be better supported if the data package contained different data or data structured in a different way. Please fill in a Suggestion form and let us know more about your ideas.