Data package user guide
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:
- 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?
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, Rapid, 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, Rapid, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy |
Subgroup estimates (CSV) | CD####-subgroup-estimates | This file includes subgroup estimates for all subgroups. | Intervention, Rapid, Prognosis, Qualitative Methodology |
Parameters (CSV) | CD####-parameters | This file includes HSROC or Bivariate parameters for each analysis. | 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, Rapid, 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, Rapid |
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, Rapid |
Risk of bias (CSV) | CD####-risk-of-bias | Risk of bias judgments and support for judgments for each result. | Intervention, Rapid, 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.
| Intervention, Rapid, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy |
Study data (JSON) | CD####-study-data | All study data in a structured format. Only available for reviews using the study-centric data feature. | Intervention, Rapid |
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####-additional | All additional references in RIS format. | All (Intervention, Rapid, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy) |
References for other published versions (RIS) | CD####-other-published-versions | All references to other published versions in RIS format. | All (Intervention, Rapid, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy) |
References for classification pending (RIS) | CD####-classification-pending | All references for references not yet classified. | All (Intervention, Rapid, Prognosis, Qualitative, Methodology, Diagnostic Test Accuracy) |
Example data packages
Intervention review -
Review with risk of bias 2 data - CD008760-dataPackage.zip
Review with study-centric data - TF2-export-package.zip
DTA review - CD008760-dataPackage.zip
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.