Cochrane Reviews are systematic reviews of primary research in human health care and are internationally recognised as the highest standard in evidence-based health care. They investigate the effects of interventions for prevention and treatment
and assess the accuracy of a diagnostic test
for a condition in a specific patient group and setting. They are
published online in The Cochrane Library.
Each systematic review addresses a clearly formulated question; for example: Can antibiotics help in alleviating the symptoms of a sore throat? All the existing
primary research on a topic that meets certain criteria is searched for
and collated, and then assessed using stringent guidelines, to
establish whether or not there is conclusive evidence about a specific
treatment. The reviews are updated regularly, ensuring that treatment
decisions can be based on the most up-to-date and reliable evidence.