Protocol project template

Protocol milestones:

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1. Define question(s)

Formulate review question(s)

Cochrane Handbook

• Determining the scope of the review and the questions it will address

MECIR Manual

• Setting the research question to inform the scope of the review (C1-C4)

Methods Support Unit web clinics

• Considering scope at the review planning stage   
• How to approach writing a Background section
• A checklist and guide for defining the questions to be addressed in the synthesis of public health intervention reviews

Webinar

• What makes a good review question? 

Define objective(s)

Cochrane Handbook 

• Determining the scope of the review and the questions it will address

MECIR Manual 

• Setting the research question to inform the scope of the review (C1-C4) 

Methods Support Unit web clinics 

•  Considering scope at the review planning stage
•  How to approach writing a Background section

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2. Define eligibility criteria 

Define eligibility criteria

Cochrane Handbook 

• Defining the criteria for including studies and how they will be grouped for the synthesis

MECIR Manual 

• Setting eligibility criteria for including studies in the review (C5-C13)
• Selecting outcomes to be addressed for studies included in the review (C14-C18)

Methods Support Unit web clinics 

• Considering scope at the review planning stage

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3. Plan methods

Plan search and develop search strategies

Cochrane Handbook 

• Designing search strategies

Plan study selection

Cochrane Handbook 

• Determining which study designs to include
• Identifying multiple reports from the same study
• Eligibility based on publication status and language

Plan synthesis of results

Cochrane Handbook 

• Choosing effect measures and computing estimates of effect 
• Summarizing study characteristics and preparing for synthesis
• Analysing data and undertaking meta-analyses
• Undertaking network meta-analyses
• Synthesizing and presenting findings using other methods 

MECIR Manual 

• Planning the review methods at protocol stage (C19-C23)

Cochrane Methodology

• Network meta-analysis (NMA)

Cochrane Interactive Learning 

• Analysing the data

RevMan Knowledge Base

• Plan: define analyses and risk of bias

Plan data extraction

Cochrane Handbook 

• Collecting data 

MECIR Manual 

• Collecting data from included studies (C43-C51)

Cochrane Interactive Learning

• Selecting studies and collecting data

RevMan Knowledge Base

• Prepare: extract study data

Plan assessment of methodological limitations

Cochrane Handbook 

• Considering bias and conflicts of interest among the included studies
• Assessing risk of bias in a randomized trial 
• Assessing risk of bias due to missing results in a synthesis
• Assessing risk of bias in a non-randomized study

MECIR Manual 

• Assessing risk of bias in included studies (C52-C60) 

Cochrane Methods

• Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool

Cochrane Methodology

• Risk of Bias (RoB)

Methods Support Unit web clinics

• Risk of Bias 2: Good practice and common errors

Cochrane Interactive Learning

• Introduction to risk of bias

 RevMan Knowledge Base

• Plan: define analyses and risk of bias

Riskofbias.info

• Risk of Bias tools 

Plan presentation of summary of findings

Cochrane Handbook

• Completing ‘Summary of findings’ tables and grading the certainty of the evidence

GRADE Handbook

• Summary of Findings table

Plan certainty/strength assessment

Cochrane Handbook 

•  Interpreting results and drawing conclusions

GRADE Handbook

• Quality of evidence

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4. Prepare manuscript for submission

Write background

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)

• PRISMA Checklist

Methods Support Unit web clinics 

• How to approach writing a Background section

Cochrane author guidelines

• Pre-submission checklist

Formulate the objective 

MECIR Manual 

• Setting the research question to inform the scope of the review (C1-C4) 

Methods Support Unit web clinics

• A checklist and guide for defining the questions to be addressed in the synthesis of public health intervention reviews

Write the methods

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)

• PRISMA for systematic review protocols (PRISMA-P) 

Cochrane Interactive Learning

• Writing the review protocol

Complete additional information

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)

• PRISMA Checklist

Cochrane author guidelines

• Pre-submission checklist

RevMan Knowledge Base

• Validation report

Internal feedback

RevMan Knowledge Base

• Compare versions

Complete pre-submission checks

Cochrane author guidelines

• Pre-submission checklist

RevMan Knowledge Base

• How to use the Cochrane review template

Submit first draft

Editorial Manager - Information for authors

• Information for authors

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5. Editorial process

Address editorial and peer reviewer comments

Cochrane author guidelines

• Peer review

Internal feedback: revision 1

RevMan Knowledge Base

• Compare versions

Submit revision 1

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)

• PRISMA Checklist

Cochrane author guidelines

• Pre-submission checklist
• Submission deadlines

RevMan Knowledge Base

• Compare versions
• Validation report

Address editorial and peer reviewer comments (2)

Cochrane author guidelines

• Peer review

Internal feedback: revision 2

RevMan Knowledge Base

• Compare versions

Submit revision 2

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)

• PRISMA Checklist

Cochrane author guidelines

• Pre-submission checklist
• Submission deadlines

RevMan Knowledge Base

• Compare versions
• Validation report

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6. Prepare manuscript for publication

Complete licence for publication

Cochrane author guidelines

• Copyright and licensing

Editorial Manager - Information for authors

• Complete your Licence for Publication Form

Address final copy edit comments

Editorial Manager - Information for authors

• Review final proofs after copy-editing