CCInfo: Electronic news bulletin of The Cochrane Collaboration 20 March 2008 Contents: A. Revised Cochrane Handbook B. Update from Editorial Management Advisory Group C. Job ad - Trials Search Coordinator D. Job Ad – Trials Search Co-ordinator E. Systematic Review Training – UK F. Randomised Controlled Trials Course G. Training Courses - York, England, UK H. Date for your diary - 2009 I. Next Issue of CCInfo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A. Sender: Julian Higgins [julian.higgins@mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk] Subject: Revised Cochrane Handbook A major revision of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Version 5.0.0) is now available. Details are available at www.cochrane.org/resources/handbook. The online version of the Handbook can be accessed directly at www.cochrane-handbook.org The Handbook will also be included in RevMan 5, and is scheduled for publication in book form by Wiley-Blackwell in time for the Freiburg colloquium. The Handbook now consists of 22 chapters in three parts. The core material (Parts 1 and 2) has been extensively revised and updated, and includes information on: new definitions around updates; the new 'Risk of bias' tool; 'Summary of findings' tables; a new chapter on reporting biases; and extensive resources to aid searching for studies. Part 3 consists of chapters on special topics: . Including non-randomized studies . Adverse effects . Incorporating economics evidence . Special topics in statistics . Patient-reported outcomes . Reviews of individual patient data . Prospective meta-analysis . Qualitative research and Cochrane reviews . Reviews in health promotion and public health . Overviews of reviews We are very grateful to all chapter authors and editors, and the members of the Handbook Advisory Group, for their work in bringing about this revision. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX B. Sender: Kate Cahill [Kate.Cahill@dphpc.ox.ac.uk] Subject: Update from Editorial Management Advisory Group The IMS has been working for many months now, in close collaboration with the Editorial Management Advisory Group (EMAG), to develop a workflow system in Archie that CRGs will be encouraged to adopt in support of their editorial practices. Workflows are designed to guide Review Group Co-ordinators and other Archie users step by step through the main processes of editing and publishing reviews, including title registration, developing reviews, protocols and updates, and managing refereeing and feedback. Users will be able to keep track of multiple tasks, and eventually the Collaboration will be able to monitor the key stages of each process. A Workflows Working Group has been set up within EMAG, with a membership of current and former RGCs. The Working Group is currently developing plain-English definitions for each agreed step of the workflows, and aims to have the definitions complete and ready for pilot-testing in Archie by the end of May. The workflow definitions are not meant to be prescriptive, but they should reflect best practice. They are intended to offer generic and flexible guidance on tasks to be addressed for the successful completion of a given editorial process. The draft refereeing definition can be inspected at www.cc-ims.net/IMSG/EMAG/workflows Feedback to kate.cahill@dphpc.ox.ac.uk is most welcome. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX C. Sender: Megan Prictor [M.Prictor@latrobe.edu.au] Subject: Job ad - Trials Search Coordinator, Australia Position: Trials Search Coordinator (Information Specialist) Organisation: Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group, La Trobe University Location: Bundoora, Melbourne, Australia Application deadline: Friday 4 April Details: The Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group has a vacancy for a Trials Search Coordinator (Information Specialist) at 0.5 FTE. The position is located at the Group's editorial base at La Trobe University in Melbourne (position number 5000 6325) and is open to overseas applicants. The remuneration package is A$61,908 to A$67,014 p.a., pro rata for part time employment (includes 17% employer superannuation). Contact: For more details please contact Megan Prictor (m.prictor@latrobe.edu.au, phone +61 3 9479 5779) or visit www.latrobe.edu.au/hr/vacancies/all-vacancies.htm and download the position description. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX D. Sender: Judy Wright [J.M.Wright@leeds.ac.uk] Subject: Job Ad – Trials Search Co-ordinator, UK Position: Trials Search Co-ordinator - Information Specialist (Fixed-term, part-time) Organisation: School of Community Health Sciences - Division of Psychiatry, Cochrane, Schizophrenia Group Location: University of Nottingham, UK Application deadline: 28 March 2008 Candidates should send a detailed CV, together with the names and addresses of two referees, to Professor C E Adams, Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, Duncan MacMillan House, Portchester Road, Nottingham NG3 6AA. Please quote ref. MED/280. Contact: Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor C E Adams, Division of Psychiatry, tel: 0115 969 1300 ext: 11210 or Email: Clive.Adams@Nottingham.ac.uk. Website: www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/SK209/Trial_Search_Co-ordinator_-_Information_Specialist_Fixed-term_part-time/ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX E. Sender: Jun Xia [J.Xia@leeds.ac.uk] Subject: Systematic Review Training - UK Workshop: Systematic Review Training Date: 6 - 9 May 2008 Location: University of Nottingham, UK Details: For people wishing to undertake reviews of randomised studies, our very successful and practical four-day systematic review course is being offered again in Nottingham (previously in Leeds)! Led by an experienced group of tutors and facilitators, this course will give you practical, individual assistance to enable you to complete your Cochrane-style review. Participants will benefit from small group teaching, workshops, library-based interactive tutorials with hands on practical work at computer stations and group work. The course fee is £650 inclusive of all learning materials, lunch and refreshments. Contact: Jun Xia jun.xia@leedspft.nhs.uk, telephone +44 (0)113 3058 303 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX F. Sender: Sally Hopewell [Sally.Hopewell@csm.ox.ac.uk] Subject: Randomised Controlled Trials Course Course: Randomised Controlled Trials Course: a guide to design, conduct, analysis, interpretation & reporting Date: 16 - 20 June 2008 Location: Oriel College, Oxford, UK Details: This course provides a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for the evaluation of healthcare interventions. It will include talks and practicals to give examples and guidance on the methodology of trials using a problem-based learning approach. Who should attend? The course is aimed at persons planning or actively involved in trials or individuals interested in furthering their knowledge of trial methodology. Applications are invited from clinical and non-clinical researchers and other professionals allied to medicine. The course is co-organised by Prof Doug Altman (Director of the Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Oxford), Ed Juszczak (Head of Trials, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Oxford), Prof John Geddes (Director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Mental Health, Oxford) and Prof Mike Clarke (Director of the UK Cochrane Centre). Contact: Course Administrator, Tracy Edwards: Email:tracy.edwards@csm.ox.ac.uk Tel: +44(0)1865 284402, Fax: +44(0)1865 284424 or visit: www.csm-oxford.org.uk/courses XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX G. Sender: Sue Collins [mailto:sc27@york.ac.uk] Subject: Training Courses - York, England, UK Course: Introduction to Statistics for Clinical Trials Date: 6-7 October 2008 Course: Introduction to the Design & Conduct of Clinical Trials Date: 8-10 October 2008 Host: The York Trials Unit, University of York Details: The aim of our courses is to equip participants with the basic skills and knowledge for the design, conduct and analysis of randomised controlled trials. The courses should be of interest to nurses, doctors and allied health professionals who are interested in rigorous evaluation of healthcare interventions. *Registration fees on or before 1 August 2008* Introduction to Statistics for Clinical Trials and Introduction to the Design & Conduct of Clinical Trials - £730 Or Introduction to Statistics for Clinical Trials - £290 Or Introduction to the Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials - £490 Contact: Course Administrator Sue Collins 01904 321727 email address sc27@york.ac.uk http://news.cochrane.org/view/item/review_one.jsp?j=1108 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX H. Sender: Caroline Rouse [CRouse@cochrane.co.uk] Subject: Date for your diary - 2009 Event: 14th Annual Meeting of UK and Ireland-based Contributors to The Cochrane Collaboration Date: 18-19 March 2009 Location: Edinburgh Conference Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland Details: Further details will be available at www.cochrane.co.uk later in the year. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I. Sender: Cheryl Arratoon [cochrane@uottawa.ca] Subject: Next Issue of CCInfo The next issue of CCInfo will be published 3 April 2008. Please submit your items to cochrane@uottawa.ca and include "CCInfo" in the subject line. Unless you request otherwise, your submissions to the CCInfo may be duplicated in other regular Cochrane Collaboration news channels such as Cochrane News and the Cochrane Collaboration web site, at the discretion of the editors. regards, Cheryl Cheryl Arratoon Knowledge Broker Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre 1 Stewart St, 2nd Floor Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5 Email: cochrane@uottawa.ca Web: www.ccnc.cochrane.org XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX To subscribe to or unsubscribe from the CCInfo list, please go to http://lists.cochrane.org/mailman/listinfo/ccinfo, or contact the Editor at cochrane@uottawa.ca