Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions

Contents

Preface xiii

Acknowledgements xv

The Handbook editors xvii

Major contributors xix

Part 1 COCHRANE REVIEWS 1

1 Introduction 3

Sally Green, Julian PT Higgins, Philip Alderson, Mike Clarke, Cynthia D Mulrow and Andrew D Oxman

2 Preparing a Cochrane review 11

Edited by Sally Green and Julian PT Higgins

3 Maintaining reviews: updates, amendments and feedback 31

Julian PT Higgins, Sally Green and Rob JPM Scholten

4 Guide to the contents of a Cochrane protocol and review 51

Edited by Julian PT Higgins and Sally Green

Part 2 GENERAL METHODS FOR COCHRANE REVIEWS 81

5 Defining the review question and developing criteria for including studies 83

Edited by Denise O'Connor, Sally Green and Julian PT Higgins

6 Searching for studies 95

Carol Lefebvre, Eric Manheimer and Julie Glanville on behalf of the Cochrane Information Retrieval Methods Group

7 Selecting studies and collecting data 151

Edited by Julian PT Higgins and Jonathan J Deeks

8 Assessing risk of bias in included studies 187

Edited by Julian PT Higgins and Douglas G Altman on behalf of the Cochrane Statistical Methods Group and the Cochrane Bias Methods Group

9 Analysing data and undertaking meta-analyses 243

Edited by Jonathan J Deeks, Julian PT Higgins and Douglas G Altman on behalf of the Cochrane Statistical Methods Group

10 Addressing reporting biases 297

Edited by Jonathan AC Sterne, Matthias Egger and David Moher on behalf of the Cochrane Bias Methods Group

11 Presenting results and 'Summary of findings' tables 335

Holger J Schünemann, Andrew D Oxman, Julian PT Higgins, Gunn E Vist, Paul Glasziou and Gordon H Guyatt on behalf of the Cochrane Applicability and Recommendations Methods Group and the Cochrane Statistical Methods Group

12 Interpreting results and drawing conclusions 359

Holger J Schünemann, Andrew D Oxman, Gunn E Vist, Julian PT Higgins, Jonathan J Deeks, Paul Glasziou and Gordon H Guyatt on behalf of

Sally Green lives in north-west England. She has had various jobs and even a profession but in 2010 she discovered a love of writing and now just can't stop.

"Cochrane Collaboration is a leader in conducting scientific systematic reviews, and the contributors to this book are a group of acclaimed scientists from all over the world, making this is a unique publication in this field." ( Doody s , 2009)