The Methodological Expectations for Cochrane Intervention Review (MECIR) are the Standards that each Cochrane Intervention Review should meet. Review authors and Cochrane Review Groups are expected to adhere or oversee adherence to these Standards across different stages of the review process: protocols, reviews and updates. 

All Standards are qualified with the status of ‘mandatory’ or ‘highly desirable’. Mandatory Standards should always be met unless an appropriate justification for not doing so can be provided. Highly desirable Standards should generally be implemented but justification for not implementing them is unnecessary. We introduce each set of Standards with key points and where necessary additional explanatory notes. The MECIR conduct Standards (C1-C75) are included in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Since the MECIR Standards were launched in 2011, technology has developed and changed how reviews are being produced. The development of web-based platforms such as Covidence, EPPI-Reviewer, and GRADEpro GDT, as well as tools supporting semi-automation, have changed the way that systematic reviews are produced. Whilst we can expect technology to develop and help improve efficiency in production of Cochrane Reviews, these Standards remain a fundamental element of the preparation and quality assurance of individual Cochrane Intervention Reviews. 

The MECIR Standards represent a considerable amount of work from many people within the Cochrane community. The core team of Julian Higgins, Rachel Churchill, Toby Lasserson, Ella Flemyng and James Thomas have made substantial contributions to the process.

We continue to welcome feedback from all of you who are responsible for delivering the Standards, and hope that they are useful to you in producing and maintaining high quality, relevant reviews that can guide decision makers throughout the world, in pursuit of better health.

Karla Soares-Weiser
Editor in Chief
The Cochrane Library