3.2.2.1 What can I do?

Groups need people who are actually going to prepare and maintain Cochrane reviews (which can be anything from a large undertaking to a relatively small one). However, there may be people who want to help in some other way. Some of the possible contributions that individuals might make, apart from doing a review, are to:

• do an electronic search of a specialized database

• help develop and test search strategies

• handsearch a particular journal, or conference proceedings, in any language, for reports of controlled trials

• translate articles for authors

• help authors to identify unpublished data

• help authors by providing additional data about a trial

• peer review a protocol or a completed review

• appraise protocols and reviews to help ensure that they can be understood by non-specialists

• provide technical advice on analysis

• provide managing editors, editors and authors with methodological and communications support

• help Cochrane Review Groups to obtain financial and other kinds of support

• encourage the involvement of students and professionals in training

• facilitate linkages between individuals throughout the world

• help to remove institutional barriers to people contributing

• use The Cochrane Library, and comment on it