A new requirement that OoRs provide a question-based synthesis rather than simply reporting on ‘What is in the Library?’ has important implications for CRGs and for authors of IRs. To meet this requirement, OoR authors will need to find up-to-date IRs that address all of the key interventions and have taken similar approaches to issues such as study inclusion criteria and selection of outcomes. Thus harmonization of protocols across IRs that address the same participant group but involve different interventions is highly desirable. Authorship issues for OoRs will also need careful ongoing consideration. The meeting deemed it desirable to involve authors of IRs included in a OoR in one of several possible ways: as OoR authors, as peer reviewers, or simply through a process of communication to facilitate speedy update of IRs and correction of any mistakes or omission identified. It may be helpful to formalize feedback of certain issues from OoRs to IR authors. For example, an automated process for populating the ‘Studies awaiting assessment’ section when OoR authors identify studies that have not been included in a relevant IR could be developed.
It was agreed that tagging of reviews that compare multiple interventions will be useful for a number of purposes. The CMIMG decided to tag reviews to create a list of reviews according to the methodology employed for research purposes (e.g. indirect comparisons, or MTM). It was agreed that CRGs could facilitate the ‘merging’ of IR that address the same question by tagging reviews focusing on the same participant groups. Furthermore, a mechanism to link IRs included in particular OoRs would facilitate feedback and update.
Other sections of this report:
Addressing multiple interventions in Cochrane Intervention Reviews
Addressing multiple interventions in Cochrane Overviews of Reviews
Clarification of the distinction between Intervention Reviews and Overviews of Reviews
A sequential approach for undertaking reviews that compare multiple-interventions
Role of the Cochrane Comparing Multiple Interventions Methods Group