International Health Consumers in The Cochrane Collaboration

Abstract

The Cochrane Consumer Network (CCNet) is an international organization of volunteers, operating through the Internet, to enhance the accessibility and relevance of Cochrane systematic reviews and to promote evidence-based health care through consumer and community participation. This article presents the accomplishments and challenges of involving consumers in The Cochrane Collaboration as indicated by 2 surveys (CCNet-led evaluation 2006 and External consultant-led evaluation 2009). While consumers are effectively involved in commenting on prepublished Cochrane systematic reviews, opportunities exist to strengthen consumer participation in prioritizing, producing, and disseminating Cochrane systematic reviews and in promoting greater understanding and application of evidence-based health care in various countries and cultures. It is important that consumer participation adds value for all involved in the process and that it is developed in partnership.

Public involvement in the systematic review process in health and social care: A narrative review of case examples

“…Members of the public have been part of the Collaboration since its inception [13] and are represented on its steering group [14]. The public contribute to the work of the Collaboration through the Cochrane Consumer Network, a virtual group of volunteers whose goal is to enhance the accessibility and relevance of Cochrane systematic reviews for the benefit of patients, carers and service users [14].…”

“…Members of the public have been part of the Collaboration since its inception [13] and are represented on its steering group [14]. The public contribute to the work of the Collaboration through the Cochrane Consumer Network, a virtual group of volunteers whose goal is to enhance the accessibility and relevance of Cochrane systematic reviews for the benefit of patients, carers and service users [14]. In an effort to evaluate the impact of public involvement within the Collaboration, two surveys of the extent to which Cochrane systematic review groups involve the public in their work have been published [14,15], and four review groups in the fields of pregnancy and childbirth, breast cancer, musculoskeletal, and haematology have published their own accounts of public involvement within their own specific review group [16][17][18][19].…”

Patient and public involvement in research in the English NHS: a documentary analysis of the complex interplay of evidence and policy

“…Recent PPI in research developments have been highlighted in Australia (Saunders and Girgis, 2010), North America (National Institute of Health, 2011), Europe (Staley, 2009;Brett et al, 2010) and in international collaborations (Wale et al, 2010). Until recently, however, these policy developments were relatively little documented and under-theorised.…”

Steps in the undertaking of a systematic review in orthopaedic surgery

“…The review questions should be born out of real-life clinical dilemmas, so that the review findings have a potential to influence medical practice or policy. Ideally, consumers should be involved in this endeavour, for example by pointing out the relevant questions or outcomes that need to be addressed [5,6].…”