Posted by Ingrid Arevalo-Rodriguez (Methods Implementation Editor)
We are pleased to announce an update to the online version of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (6.4-2023) and to the Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR) standards (August 2023).
In this update, changes include:
- Edits throughout several Handbook chapters (such as Chapters I, II, III, IV and V) due to changes to organizational structures in Cochrane and changes introduced by the new focused review format.
- Edits related to the retirement of the Cochrane's Protocol, Reporting and Update Reporting standards (MECIR items PR1 to PR44, R1 to R109 and UR1 to UR7) and endorsement of PRISMA 2020 (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) reporting guidelines for use in Cochrane Reviews of interventions. These changes does not affect the MECIR Conduct Standards or the Planning or Conduct Standards for Updates.
- Updates throughout the searching and selecting studies chapter that reflect the most up-to-date research, tools and best practices (see Chapter 4). Updates regarding the Technical supplement to Chapter 4 are underway and due imminently. These updates have not resulted in any methods-related changes to the MECIR conduct standards.
See the Handbook versions and changes page and the MECIR versions and changes page for more details.
Please note the citation for both the Handbook and MECIR has changed with this update; see the individual Handbook chapter citations at the beginning of each chapter and the MECIR citation.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with support@cochrane.org