Cochrane reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy (DTA)
The working Group are currently accepting proposals for reviews in DTA. Please contact the CGCG in the first instance if you have an enquiry of this nature.
Publication Arbiter
Two “Publication Arbiters”, David Henderson-Smart and Kay Dickersin have been appointed by the Collaboration Steering Group to try to help resolve problems that arise between the editorial teams of CGs and reviewers in relation to the publication of Cochrane reviews, or between different Collaborative Groups in relation to the overlap of reviews between CGs.
Cochrane Style Resources
In an effort to achieve uniformity of style and consistency in the various documents produced by The Cochrane Collaboration, a Style Guide has been prepared. It is a living document that will evolve with the needs of The Cochrane Collaboration and with your feedback. We will be using the Style Guide to copy-edit your protocols and reviews, so you may like to view it on this website:
NHS Programme Grant
The Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Group has been awarded a 3 year NHS Cochrane Collaboration Programme Grant which will help support authors preparing systematic reviews on topics of high priority to NHS patients.
Background
When the major gynaecological cancer sites are combined they have the second highest incidence of any female cancer in the UK (17,413 cases in 2003, UKCR figures) behind breast cancer and ahead of colorectal and lung cancer. Mortality from gynaecological cancer in the UK (7661 deaths in 2004, UKCR figures) is only lower than lung and breast cancer. The NHS has made major improvements in gynaecological cancer care and it is one of the most integrated and multidisciplinary areas in medicine with an active Improving Outcome Guidance (IOG) programme. This is important as there are seven tumour sites with multiple complex care pathways. The Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Group is a highly collaborative multidisciplinary group with a good track record in developing teams to prepare reviews. The most active UK members of the group form the core of this award scheme and have strong links to all the major national professional and consumer organisations involved in gynaecological cancer.
The aim is to improve patient care by preparing systematic reviews, which will inform national guidelines and local protocols.
Current Gynaecological Cancer protocols vary from Network to Network in the NHS. Topics for potential reviews will be developed by identifying areas where evidence is weak or missing. These topics will be identified and prioritised by Cancer Networks, BGCS, BSCCP, RCOG, NFGON, Ovacome, Jo’s Trust, NICE, CRD, NCRI and NHS programme Directors. These partners will form an Advisory Group of Stakeholders.
Criteria for prioritisation were be:
1) Improving patient outcomes
2) Importance to NHS priorities
3) Achievability and resources required
4) Impact on efficacy and efficiency
5) Timeliness.
The programme will be actively seeking to identify UK trainees in all aspects of gynaecological cancer care who are keen to conduct a systematic review. Support will then be given throughout the preparation and publication of such a review.
These reviewers will be formally attached to one of the clinical applicants, with whom they will jointly prepare a timetable for review completion, with milestones for protocol, searches, data abstraction and statistical analysis. The management team will regularly monitor and support the progress of each review. All reviewers will receive mentoring (by telephone, email and face-to-face meetings) from their experienced clinical reviewer and methodological experts, whom they will be encouraged to visit to progress the review.
The programme has two methodologists to provide expert technical support to clinical reviewers.
• Information scientist to advise on design of search strategies, conduct searches, manage reference management database, import references to RevMan (editorial package used for Cochrane systematic reviews).
• Statistical methodologist to develop templates for data abstraction forms and for statistical methods for reviews; perform specialised aspects of data abstraction (e.g. hazard ratios using Parmar's methods, cluster randomised trials); advise on quality issues, statistical design, analysis and interpretation; ensure statistical quality control.
Support for authors is also available from the editorial base who will maintain communication between the Group’s editors and the authors, managing the process of statistical, methodological and external peer review.
Reviews produced in this programme will be translated by BGCS and Network site specialist groups into guidelines and protocols respectively. These protocols will be audited for compliance, by Networks and Trusts, in order to improve care.
Acronyms and abbreviations referred to:
British Gynaecological Cancer Society (BGCS)
British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (BSCCP)
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD)
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
United Kingdom Cancer Research (UKCR)
National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI)
National Forum of Gynaecological Oncology Nurses (NFGON)
National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI)
