Editorial and Publishing Policy Resource
What’s New events (publishing events) in Cochrane Reviews: new publication, new citation, or change in publication status

When a Cochrane Review (or a protocol) is published for the first time a new citation version is automatically generated. Cochrane Review citation versions are recorded in reference databases such as MEDLINE and Science Citation Index (SCI). Protocols do not have citations in MEDLINE or SCI, but are included in other databases such as PROSPERO.

The following tables describe the events that lead to a new publication, new citation, or a change in the publication status for protocols (Table 1) and reviews (Table 2). These events are called ‘What’s New events’ in Review Manager.

Occasionally, it may be necessary to split a protocol or review into two or more protocols or reviews, or merge two or more protocols or reviews to create a new protocol or review. Each of the new versions will have a new citation.

Note: While it is technically possible to enter several ‘What’s New’ events in an updated review, only information about the changes since the last published version should be in the ‘What’s New’ table. ‘What’s New’ events from previously published versions should be moved to the History table.

Table 1. Protocols for Cochrane Reviews: events that lead to a new publication or change in publication status (‘What’s New’ events)

Change

New citation version?

‘What’s New’ events to select

Examples

Major change

Y

(1) New citation: major change

An important change to the objectives or scope of the proposed review, usually through a change to the criteria for including studies

Amended

 

N

(1) Amended

Any change to the protocol content that does not change the objectives, scope or criteria for including studies

Y

(1) New citation: no major change

Changes in authorship (also see 'Authorship and contributorship'), or the title of the protocol

Withdrawn

Y

(1) Change status to ‘withdrawn’ on the Advanced tab of the Properties sheet in Archie

AND

(2) Amended

See further information

Table 2. Cochrane Reviews: events that lead to a new publication, new citation, or change in publication status (‘What’s New’ events)

Change

Conclusions changed?

New citation version?

‘What’s New’ events to select

Examples

First publication

n/a

Y

None

Review published for the first time

Update

(New search and any studies fully incorporated*)

Y

Y

(1) New citation: conclusions changed 

AND 

(2) Updated 

Must include a new search and studies fully incorporated*, or no new studies identified. May also include:

  • Addition (or removal) of studies
  • Changes in results of analyses, methodology, or review scope
  • Correction of a serious error

N

Y

(1) New citation: conclusions not changed

AND

(2) Updated

Must include a new search and studies fully incorporated*, or no new studies identified. May also include any changes that do not change conclusions, such as:

  • Change to the Background section
  • Addition (or removal) of new studies
  • Changes in results of analyses (e.g. in effect estimates or confidence intervals), methodology, or review scope (e.g. new outcomes, comparisons, types of participants or developments in the intervention or its delivery) 
  • Changes in authorship

Amendment

(No new search, or new search and studies not fully incorporated*)

Y

Y

(1) Amended

AND

(2) New citation: conclusions changed
  • Addition (or removal) of studies (e.g. the full inclusion of a study previously awaiting classification)
  • Changes in results of analyses, methodology, or review scope

N

N

(1) Amended

Any changes that do not change conclusions, such as:

  • Change to the Background section.
  • Addition (or removal) of new studies (e.g. the full inclusion of a study previously awaiting classification)
  • New search performed, but studies not fully incorporated into the results of the review (i.e. added to ‘Studies awaiting classification’)
  • Changes in results of analyses (e.g. in effect estimates or confidence intervals), methodology, review scope of the review (e.g. new outcomes, comparisons, types of participants or developments in the intervention or its delivery)

N

Y

(1) Amended

AND

(2) New citation: conclusions not changed

No longer updated (stable)

 

N

N

(1) No longer updated
  • Intervention is superseded (bearing in mind that Cochrane reviews should be internationally relevant)
  • Conclusion is so certain that the addition of new information will not change it, and there are no foreseeable adverse effects of the intervention

Withdrawn

n/a

Y

(1) Change status to ‘withdrawn’ on the Advanced tab of the Properties sheet in Archie

AND

(2) Amended

*Studies are fully incorporated into the Cochrane Review if added to the included studies, excluded studies, ongoing studies, or studies awaiting classification (only if all reasonable efforts to integrate it into included, excluded, or ongoing have failed), or no new studies identified in search. Studies are not fully incorporated if studies identified by the search are added to studies awaiting classification only (see exception above). See ‘Reporting search dates’ for further information.

Section info
Describe change
New section added: 'What’s New events (publishing events) in Cochrane Reviews: new publication, new citation, or change in publication status'
Change date
19 January 2015