Cochrane’s new Focused Review Format launched in August 2023. One of the main drivers of this change was to simplify reporting for authors and to help achieve this. We have created a new template for intervention reviews to guide authors on what to report and where. This template contains essential guidance on conducting a review and reporting the findings.

In this web clinic, Ella Flemyng (Head of Editorial Policy and Research Integrity) and Rachel Richardson (Methods Support Unit Manager) introduced the template, talked through key features, and gave recommendations for its use.

Below you will find the videos from the February 2024 webinar. Recordings from other Methods Support Unit web clinics are available here. 

Part 1: Focused review format, reporting guidelines and template
Part 2: Overview of Focused Review Format template
Part 3: Questions and answers

Presenter bios

Ella Flemyng is Head of Editorial Policy and Research Integrity in Cochrane. She leads work to define and deliver on policies and standards so Cochrane evidence continues to be trusted and valued. This includes delivering change to the format of Cochrane reviews and data to make them more streamlined to produce and easier to use. Ella worked in open access STEM publishing before joining Cochrane in 2019. Follow her at @EllaFlemyng

Rachel Richardson, Methods Support Unit Manager, Cochrane. Rachel originally trained and worked as a general manager in the UK National Health Service, and has subsequently worked in health services research for many years. She has experience in various fields including knowledge translation, trial management and systematic reviewing.  She currently works as the Methods Support Unit Manager in Cochrane’s Central Executive Team, advising on Cochrane methods.