3.2.2.2 Exploring areas of common interest

As one of the principles of The Cochrane Collaboration is to avoid duplication of effort, people who are interested in developing a Cochrane Review Group need to get in touch with others already in a Cochrane Review Group where there may be areas of common interest, and with people who have already expressed a similar interest.

The first step is to consult The Cochrane Library, which contains information about The Cochrane Collaboration, including details of registered Cochrane Review Groups, and names and addresses of people currently engaged in co-ordinating the formation of new Cochrane Review Groups that are not yet registered. This may provide relevant contact points to follow up.

The Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects is a bibliography of published and some unpublished reports of systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which is maintained by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination in the UK. People considering establishing a new Cochrane Review Group should consult this to explore areas where systematic reviews already exist, and to identify the people who prepared them: they may be interested in being part of a Cochrane Review Group.