Review/Update project template
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Organizational Administrators | Unit Leads | Individual subscribers | 
Cochrane users
Review/Update milestones:
1. Select studies
The suggested timeframe for completing this milestone is 8 weeks.
1. Run search in databases and/or other sources
Cochrane Handbook
MECIR Manual
2. Search results received
Cochrane Handbook
Cochrane Training
3. Title/abstract screening (in duplicate)
Third author to resolve conflicts as stipulated per protocol.
Cochrane Handbook
MECIR Manual
Cochrane Training
4. Full text screening (in duplicate)
Third author to resolve conflicts as stipulated per protocol.
Cochrane Handbook
MECIR Manual
Webinar
2. Populate study data
The suggested timeframe for completing this milestone is 16 weeks.
1. Set up and pilot data extraction template
Setting up and piloting the data extraction form can be completed simultaneously during the search and screening process.
Cochrane Handbook
MECIR Manual
RevMan Knowledge Base
2. Extract study characteristics
Cochrane Handbook
MECIR Manual
RevMan Knowledge Base
3. Extract outcome data (in duplicate)
[This task takes time - make sure 2-3 authors have time available]
Third author to resolve conflicts as stipulated per protocol.
Cochrane Handbook
MECIR Manual
RevMan Knowledge Base
4. Assess methodological limitations in included studies (in duplicate, with any conflicts resolved)
[This task takes time - make sure 2-3 authors have time available]
Third author to resolve conflicts as stipulated per protocol.
Cochrane Handbook
Cochrane methodology
5. Add study data to RevMan
Cochrane Handbook
Cochrane author guidelines
RevMan Knowledge Base
6. Complete study characteristic tables
Cochrane Handbook
Cochrane author guidelines
RevMan Knowledge Base
3. Complete summary of findings
The suggested timeframe for completing this milestone is 4 weeks.
1. Synthesize data
Cochrane Handbook
- Summarizing study characteristics and preparing for synthesis
- Analysing data and undertaking meta-analyses
- Undertaking network meta-analyses
- Synthesizing and presenting findings using other methods
Cochrane author guidelines
Cochrane methodology
RevMan Knowledge Base
2. Create summary of findings
Cochrane Handbook
Methods Support Unit web clinics
3. Assess the certainty/strength of the evidence
Cochrane Handbook
Methods Support Unit web clinic
4. Present summary of findings for feedback
Ensure that the entire author team is available for this task.
Cochrane Handbook
4. Prepare manuscript for submission
The suggested timeframe for completing this milestone is 24 weeks. 16 weeks should be spent on tasks 1-12 and 8 weeks on tasks 13-15.
1. Write results – Results of the search
Cochrane Handbook
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
2. Write results – Describe studies
Cochrane Handbook
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
3. Write results – Methodological limitations
Cochrane Handbook
Cochrane Methods
4. Write results – Results of synthesis
Cochrane Handbook
5. Write discussion – Summary of main findings
Cochrane Handbook
- Reporting the review
- Completing ‘Summary of findings’ tables and grading the certainty of the evidence
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
Methods Support Unit web clinics
6. Write discussion – Limitations of the evidence
Cochrane Handbook
- Reporting the review
- Completing ‘Summary of findings’ tables and grading the certainty of the evidence
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
Methods Support Unit web clinics
7. Write discussion – Limitations of review processes
Cochrane Handbook
- Reporting the review
- Completing ‘Summary of findings’ tables and grading the certainty of the evidence
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
Methods Support Unit web clinics
8. Write discussion – Agreements and disagreements
Cochrane Handbook
- Reporting the review
- Completing ‘Summary of findings’ tables and grading the certainty of the evidence
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
Methods Support Unit web clinics
9. Write authors' conclusions
Cochrane Handbook
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
Methods Support Unit web clinics
10. Write abstract
Cochrane Handbook
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
11. Write plain language summary
Cochrane Handbook
12. Complete additional information
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
Cochrane author guidelines
RevMan Knowledge Base
13. Internal feedback
Allow one month for rest of author team, Cochrane groups, and anyone else supporting the review to check the manuscript and for author team to incorporate feedback into final version.
RevMan Knowledge Base
14. Complete pre-submission checks
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
Cochrane author guidelines
RevMan Knowledge Base
15. Submit first draft
Editorial Manager - Information for authors
5. Editorial process
1. Address editorial and peer reviewer comments
Cochrane author guidelines
2. Internal feedback: revision 1
RevMan Knowledge Base
3. Submit revision 1
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
Cochrane author guidelines
RevMan Knowledge Base
4. Address editorial and peer reviewer comments (2)
Cochrane author guidelines
5. Internal feedback: revision 2
RevMan Knowledge Base
6. Submit revision 2
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
Cochrane author guidelines
RevMan Knowledge Base
6. Prepare manuscript for publication
1. Complete licence for publication
Cochrane author guidelines
Editorial Manager - Information for authors
2. Address final copy edit comments
Editorial Manager - Information for authors