Celebrating 20 years of evidence from the Cochrane Collaboration: what has been the impact of systematic reviews on nephrology?

Suetonia C Palmer; Jonathan C Craig; Ann Jones; Gail Higgins; Narelle Willis; Giovanni F M Strippoli

doi:10.1093/ndt/gfu232

Celebrating 20 years of evidence from the Cochrane Collaboration: what has been the impact of systematic reviews on nephrology?

Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2015 Jun;30(6):871-7. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfu232. Epub 2014 Jul 12.

Authors

Suetonia C Palmer¹, Jonathan C Craig², Ann Jones², Gail Higgins², Narelle Willis², Giovanni F M Strippoli³

Affiliations

¹ Cochrane Renal Group, Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand.
² Cochrane Renal Group, Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia Sydney School of Public Health, Sydney, Australia.
³ Cochrane Renal Group, Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia Sydney School of Public Health, Sydney, Australia Fondazione Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro, Italy Diaverum Scientific Office, Lund, Sweden University of Bari, Bari, Italy Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Piedmont, Italy.

PMID: 25016606
DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfu232

Abstract

It has been 20 years since the Cochrane Collaboration started the global effort to synthesize evidence to improve healthcare. Since 1997, the Cochrane Renal Group has produced over 100 systematic reviews that have collectively had an important impact on nephrology care, guidelines and policy. In this article, we reflect on the ongoing need for randomized trials and systematic reviews in contemporary nephrology and the achievements of the Cochrane Collaboration so far. We also describe some of the challenges in clinical research still faced by the nephrology community today.

Keywords: evidence; meta-analysis; randomized trial; systematic review.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biomedical Research
Cooperative Behavior
Evidence-Based Medicine / standards*
Guidelines as Topic
Humans
International Cooperation
Kidney Diseases / therapy*
Nephrology / standards*
Review Literature as Topic*