Cochrane Library

The Cochrane Collaboration

The Cochrane Collaboration is an international not-for-profit and independent organisation which produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. The Cochrane Collaboration hosts specialist review groups which produce reviews in specific medical topic areas. Diabetes is included in the Cochrane Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders Group. For details of diabetes related work see Our titles, protocols and reviews.

The Cochrane Library

The Cochrane Library database is an essential resource for finding reliable evidence on interventions such as diagnosis, treatments, aspects of health promotion and the organisation of care. The Cochrane Library contains a number of separate databases one of which is the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Systematic reviews identify, evaluate and synthesise research studies on given topics and as such are a key source of evidence.

Details of relevant Cochrane reviews are included throughout this website. Because they are updated regularly it is important that you check out the review to make sure you are aware of the most recent update. There is a link to the Cochrane Library database wherever a Cochrane review is referred to so that you can access the database directly.

The Cochrane Library is a collection of databases that contain high quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision making. Within the Cochrane Library the Learn and Help sections provide further information and instructions on how to use the Cochrane Library and how to carry out searches. For example, for details of different forms of support including webinars, online self-paced tutorials and printed materials see how to use the Cochrane Library. There are also more detailed search instructions in the search manual page.

Systematic reviews

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews provides the full text of systematic reviews. These reviews are updated at least every two years so it is important to check the database regularly in case any amendments have been made. Systematic reviews are a vital source of information because they aim to comprehensively identify and synthesise the literature on a given topic.

Further information about systematic reviews can be found on the following websites and documents:

Protocols

Cochrane protocols provide information about reviews which are currently being written. They summarise the background, the rationale and proposed methods of the review, and are published in the hope that people will comment on the plans and identify omissions or mistakes before the review is completed.