3.2.1.2 Principles that make Cochrane Review Groups work

Cochrane Review Groups focus on particular health problems. The Stroke Group (registered with The Cochrane Collaboration in August 1993) is a good example to illustrate the scope and organisation of a Cochrane Review Group. All Cochrane Review Groups are concerned with interventions that help people to avoid the health problem concerned (prevention), to cope with it when it occurs (treatment), and to recover from its effects as fully as possible (rehabilitation). Each Cochrane Review Group considers the health problem from different angles, such as different professional specialties or categories of intervention. The Stroke Group has some 278 active contributors in 21 countries, an administrative base in Edinburgh, Scotland, and 13 editors located in 7 countries. Experience in this and other Cochrane Review Groups that are working well indicates that the following elements are important in their early evolution:

• At least one individual committed to spending energy and time in co-ordinating efforts to set up and develop a Cochrane Review Group.
• People who view a Cochrane Review Group as one small part of a much wider collaborative effort, and who see the work as something in which they wish to participate for the foreseeable future.
• Close liaison between the individuals who are helping to coordinate the formation of a Cochrane Review Group and their reference Cochrane Centre.
• An atmosphere of collaboration, with positive efforts made to ensure that the Cochrane Review Group is international and multidisciplinary, with consumer input, and not dominated by one particular individual, interest group, institution or country.
• Efficient, courteous administration, ensuring prompt response to and co-ordination of enquiries from potential contributors.
• Prompt two-way communication between those at the editorial base and the authors.
• Supportive relationship between editors and authors (i.e. similar to that between a good PhD supervisor and postgraduate student).