Cochrane (organisation)

An international network of researchers and healthcare professionals

The Cochrane logo

Cochrane, formerly known as the Cochrane Collaboration, is an international non-profit organization that aims to facilitate well-informed health decisions by preparing, maintaining, and promoting the accessibility of systematic reviews of the effects of healthcare interventions. Cochrane is recognized for its contributions to evidence-based medicine and is widely respected in the medical community.

History

Cochrane was founded in 1993 and named after Archie Cochrane, a British epidemiologist who advocated for the use of randomized controlled trials to make healthcare more effective and efficient. The organization was established to address the need for systematic reviews of healthcare interventions, which were not widely available at the time.

Mission and Objectives

Cochrane's mission is to promote evidence-informed health decision-making by producing high-quality, relevant, accessible systematic reviews and other synthesized research evidence. The organization aims to:

• Produce evidence in the form of systematic reviews that are up-to-date, accurate, and reliable.
• Disseminate evidence to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public.
• Advocate for the use of evidence in healthcare decision-making.
• Build an international community of researchers and healthcare professionals committed to evidence-based practice.

Structure

Cochrane is a global network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers, and people interested in health. It is organized into:

• Cochrane Review Groups: These groups are responsible for producing and updating systematic reviews.
• Cochrane Centres: These centers support the work of review groups and promote the use of Cochrane evidence.
• Cochrane Fields: These focus on specific health topics or types of evidence.
• Cochrane Methods Groups: These groups develop and improve the methods used in Cochrane reviews.

Cochrane Reviews

Cochrane Reviews are systematic reviews of primary research in human health care and health policy. They are internationally recognized as the highest standard in evidence-based health care resources. Each review addresses a clearly formulated question, such as whether a treatment is effective, by using explicit, systematic methods to identify, select, and critically appraise relevant research, and to collect and analyze data from the studies that are included in the review.

Impact

Cochrane's work has had a significant impact on healthcare policy and practice worldwide. Its reviews are used by healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers to make informed decisions about health interventions. Cochrane evidence is also used in the development of clinical guidelines and health technology assessments.

Related pages

• Evidence-based medicine
• Systematic review
• Randomized controlled trial
• Meta-analysis