Editorial process

Titles

Titles proposals must be submitted through Editorial Manager. Author teams are required to include a mix of content expertise and Cochrane methodology experience. We encourage author teams to also include someone from a lower-middle income country. All authors must be in compliance with Cochrane's conflict of interest policy, authors not in compliance may result in rejection. Visit the Cochrane knowledge base page for instructions on submitting a new review.   

The FRG can approve a topics before the title is registered. To inquiry with the FRG about a new topic, email CochraneFRG@ohsu.edu. The FRG can support authors in forming the right research question and scope giving authors a better chance at getting the title approved. 

Once approved, protocols must be delivered within six months of a title being registered.

Protocols

Protocols are written in RevMan Web, writing guidance and some sample text are pre-populated in their respective sections. The FRG also provides template text specific to our topic area, if you have not already received the FRG guidance please email CochraneFRG@ohsu.edu. The FRG information specialist will insert the text for the search section, authors can review the text but are discouraged from makin edits. Protocols will be submitted through Editorial Manager. Submissions are reviewed by a managing editor, sign-off editor, methodologist, information specialist, peer and consumer reviewers. There may be two to three rounds of review and author revisions. Visit the Cochrane knowledge base page for instructions on submitting a protocol. 

Authors will be notified by email if the protocol has been provisionally accepted. At this point the protocol will be sent for copy-editor review. Authors will need to address comments and concerns from the copy-editor before the protocol is published. 

Reviews should be submitted within twelve months of the protocol being published on the Cochrane Library. 

Reviews

All submissions are reviewed by a managing editor, sign-off editor, methodologist, information specialist, peer and consumer reviewers.  There may be two to three rounds of review and author revisions. Visit the Cochrane knowledge base page for instructions on submitting a review. 

Authors will be notified by email if the protocol has been provisionally accepted. At this point the protocol will be sent for copy-editor review. Authors will need to address comments and concerns from the copy-editor before the protocol is published. 

Updating

The FRG has strict standards on updating reviews. If you are interested in updating a review email CochraneFRG@ohsu.edu. There may be different approaches to updating a review depending on the question, how old the review is, and the methods used. Before submitting a proposal to update a review, authors should check in with the FRG editorial base. 

The FRG is moving towards living systematic reviews, keeping publications as up to date with the current evidence base as possible.