1. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Planning for a Cochrane review and moving thru the editorial process Jodie Doyle, Managing Editor

2. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Things to think about upfront Choosing a topic - Review authors need to understand their chosen topic area, particularly public health importance of intervention (design a logic model, undertake scoping of the existing evidence) Ensuring relevance - potential end-users should be involved in framing the review question, intervention scope, and outcomes (see Review Advisory Group slide) Consider funding options to support review production Consider time commitment (12 months +, and updating thereafter) Utilise the Cochrane Public Health Group (CPHG) early in the process (ie. to discuss topic) Undertake Cochrane training - Cochrane Collaboration Online Learning http://training.cochrane.org/ and local Cochrane Centres www2.cochrane.org/news/workshops.shtmlhttp://training.cochrane.org/ www2.cochrane.org/news/workshops.shtml

3. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Choosing a topic Know and have an interest in the content area Review should add evidence to current, topical policy question on effectiveness of an intervention Be prepared to have your own preconceived opinions on effects disproved (or don’t do it!) and to step outside of the health domain Where possible, aim for a review topic that is relevant to developing country decision making Check against the scope of the CPHG http://ph.cochrane.org/scope-our-workhttp://ph.cochrane.org/scope-our-work Have other reviews on this topic been conducted? –Check for reviews already completed or in-progress with Cochrane Collaboration (http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/index.htm) to avoid duplication of efforthttp://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/index.htm –Check other sources of reviews

4. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Funding options No direct funding from Cochrane Collaboration or CPHG to support full review production Commercial sponsorship of reviews prohibited Consider horizon scanning to support review funding (ie guidelines being developed, policy development on government agendas? etc) Some organisations do commission CRs Your local CC Centre may have knowledge of local funding opportunities

5. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Forming the authorship team At least two authors Mix of content expertise with interdisciplinary perspectives Methodology expertise Consider time availability and management when deciding number of authors Lead author to ‘lead’ on defining tasks of each member (task allocations to be described in proposal) Try to include at least one other author from another country

6. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Forming a Review Advisory Group A recommendation within The Cochrane Handbook Helps ensure relevance to end users (policy makers, funders, practitioners, recipients/consumers) Role: to help reviewers outline the parameters (ie. PICO) of their proposed review (not as co-authors). Provide background material (local/broader context) May help to interpret findings and disseminate 4 – 8 members. PHRG can help source Management can be challenging and potentially time-consuming - lead author generally responsible for communications Be clear on roles (formal or informal) and timeframes. Ask direct questions.

7. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Editorial process of a review thru the PHRG Cochrane reviews progress to final review publication in 3 stages: 1.Title registration 2. Protocol - sets out your plan for conducting the review 3. Completed review (Updates thereafter)

8. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health 1. Registration of title 2. Submission of Protocol to editorial base (editorial comment and feedback (2-3 weeks) Co-edit by Publishers. Final author and editorial approval – marked for Publication (2-3we eks) Publication in Cochrane Library 3. Submission of completed review (or updated review) to editorial base (editorial comment and feedback (3-4 weeks) 6-12 months 3-6 months Author modifications to document CPHG Review Development Process Editorial review of modifications (1-2 weeks) External review and feedback (4 weeks) External review and feedback (3 weeks)

9. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Title registration stage (1) Significant stage in setting up the direction of the review – don’t rush into submission Upon general agreement on the review topic with the Managing Editor (cochrane@vichealth.vic.gov.au), you are sent a Title Registration Form to completecochrane@vichealth.vic.gov.au Ensure all authors have input into the TRF, involve the RAG members at this stage The TRF asks for information on: Author team (including experience in doing reviews) Motivation for the review Funding Parameters of the proposed review, ie. Objective Rationale for review PICO Other information relevant to the proposal, including a) relevance to developing countries and b) in highlighting issues of inequity TRF is sent to the editors for consideration and comments -> If approved, title registered with CC to ensure that there is no overlap with any others -> after 2 weeks (if there is no overlap/objections) the title is officially registered and you can begin work on the protocol.

10. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Protocol development (2) Need to include: Background Objective Criteria for considering studies for this review Types of studies Types of participants Types of interventions Types of outcome measures Search methods for identification of studies Methods of the review Study selection Data extraction Study quality (how data will be extracted and assessed) Statistical analysis Sources of support, Acknowledgements, Conflict of Interest

11. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Protocol development (2) Download the software (Revman) for entering protocol and review text User account and link to the CC IMS – Archie CPHG Guide for developing a Cochrane protocol CPHG Handbook - more specific guidance conducting PH reviews Cochrane Reviewer Training - local Cochrane Centre or self-directed training available on-line All authors involved in protocol development (RAG members can also be consulted) Protocol first submitted within 3-6 months of title registration Peer reviewed by external referees and PHRG editors Copy edited -> published on The Cochrane Library

12. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Review development (3) Upon acceptance of protocol for publication -> commence work on the review No need for RAG members to be involved Submitted review (6-12 months) undergoes similar editorial process to the protocol and is published on The Cochrane Library when the final draft has been accepted Updates every 2 years or as necessary

13. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Ongoing support Unlike other journals we do not take your submitted work and either accept or reject it -> work with team until protocol/review meets standards for publication Statistical editors can assist with any statistical problems and will assess the draft protocol and review when submitted The TSC can assist in reviewing search strategy and may be able to help with study retrieval, resources permitting

14. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Lessons from review authors Think about funding before starting to allow blocking of time. Enthusiasm may not be enough to get the protocol finished. Funding can be essential Can be time consuming potentially up to 2 years to write and publish the review – if people undertaking in their “spare time“ or around other work projects. Think about the practicality of doing a review with people from around the globe who you have never met. Establish clear goals, time lines and frequency of communication…project management

15. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Useful Resources CPHG’s Guide for developing a Cochrane protocol http://ph.cochrane.org/sites/ph.cochrane.org/files/uploads/ Guide%20for%20PH%20protocol_booklet_UpdatedJan52 011.pdf http://ph.cochrane.org/sites/ph.cochrane.org/files/uploads/ Guide%20for%20PH%20protocol_booklet_UpdatedJan52 011.pdf Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions - www.cochrane-handbook.org/ Other resources linked on - www.ph.cochrane.org/en/authors.html

16. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Cochrane Collaboration Online Learning http://training.cochrane.org/

17. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Writing a protocol for your review

18. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Why have a protocol? Systematic reviews are scientific research Involve judgements about what to include Plan methods ‘a priori’ to reduce bias Access to peer review Avoid duplication of effort

19. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Format of a protocol 1.Title 2.Review authors 3.Background 4.Objectives 5.Selection criteria 6.Search strategy 7.Methods 8.other Your new best friends… CPHG’s Guide for developing a Cochrane protocol http://ph.cochrane.org/resources -and-guidance http://ph.cochrane.org/resources -and-guidance Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions www.cochrane-handbook.org/

20. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Writing your protocol 1) Background –How important is the problem? –Is there uncertainty? –What is the reasoning as to why the intervention(s) might work? (include theoretical frameworks) –Other similar reviews? –Why is it important to do the review?

21. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Writing your protocol 2) Objectives –What are the questions/hypotheses? 3) Selection criteria –Follow naturally from objectives –PICO(T) Population(s) Intervention(s) Comparison(s) Outcomes (Primary / Secondary) Types of studies

22. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Writing your protocol 4) Planned search strategy –Databases and terms 5) Planned data extraction –Processes and outcomes? –More than one reviewer? –Planned quality appraisal (incl. checklists) 6) Method of synthesis –Tabulate –Narrative/qualitative synthesis or meta-analysis

23. The McCaughey Centre VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population Health Any questions? Contact: jdoyle@vichealth.vic.gov.au jdoyle@vichealth.vic.gov.au Website: www.ph.cochrane.org www.ph.cochrane.org