Cochrane Style Manual 2.0
Cochrane publications

In this section: Protocol | Cochrane Review | Comment on a Cochrane Review | Registered title | Editorial | Handbooks | Handbook chapter | Cochrane Editorial and Publishing Policy Resource | Cochrane Style Manual

Protocol for a Cochrane Review

Example: Ranganathan LN, Ramaratnam S. Zonisamide monotherapy for epilepsy [Protocol]. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD006789. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006789.

Reference type Cochrane Protocol
Authors Ranganathan LN, Ramaratnam S
English title Zonisamide monotherapy for epilepsy

Note: do not add the word '[Protocol]' because the software enters this automatically.

Journal/book/source Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Date of publication 2007
Issue 4
Identifier - DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD006789

Note: the CD number is included in the DOI and does not need to be repeated.

 

Cochrane Review

Example: Herbert RD, de Noronha M, Kamper SJ. Stretching to prevent or reduce muscle soreness after exercise. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 7. CD004577. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004577.pub3.

Reference type Cochrane Review
Authors Herbert RD, de Noronha M, Kamper SJ
English title Stretching to prevent or reduce muscle soreness after exercise
Journal/book/source Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Date of publication 2011
Issue 7
Identifier - DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD004577.pub3

Note: the CD number is included in the DOI and does not need to be repeated.

 

Comment on a Cochrane Review, Protocol or Editorial

All published comments on articles in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews have a unique URL that can be used to cite the comment. The comment URL can be found by accessing the full text of the comment on the Cochrane Library and then copying the URL that is displayed by the browser.

Example: Cosmi E, Belli P, Montisci M. Comment on: Fundal pressure during the second stage of labour. 12 March 2018. www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006067.pub3/detailed-comment/en?messageId=167119701

Reference type Correspondence
Authors Cosmi E, Belli P, Montisci M
English title Comment on: Fundal pressure during the second stage of labour
Journal/book/source www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006067.pub3/detailed-comment/en?messageId=167119701
Date of Publication 12 March 2018

 

Registered title

Example: Teoh A. Anti-fibrotic therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrotic interstitial lung diseases [title]. www.cochrane.org/title/anti-fibrotic-therapies-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-and-other-fibrotic-interstitial-lung-diseases. Registered on 11 January 2019.

Reference ID Teoh 2019
Reference type Other
Authors Teoh A
English title Anti-fibrotic therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrotic interstitial lung diseases [title]
Journal/book/source www.cochrane.org/title/anti-fibrotic-therapies-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-and-other-fibrotic-interstitial-lung-diseases
Date of publication Registered on 11 January 2019

 

Editorial

Editorials published on the Cochrane Library are part of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Example: Moons KG, Hooft L, Williams K, Hayden JA, Damen JA, Riley RD. Implementing systematic reviews of prognosis studies in Cochrane [Editorial]. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD006789. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006789.

Reference type Cochrane review
Authors Moons KG, Hooft L, Williams K, Hayden JA, Damen JA, Riley RD
English title Implementing systematic reviews of prognosis studies in Cochrane [Editorial]
Journal/book/source Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Date of publication 2018
Issue 10
Identifier - DOI 10.1002/14651858.ED000129

Note: the ED number is included in the DOI and does not need to be repeated.

 

Handbooks

Note: the new version (version 6) of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions was published in book and online form in October 2019. The online version was updated in February 2021 (version 6.2), so if citing the online version please cite version 6.2. The book version should only be cited if the book version was used as the reference material.   

If authors need to cite previous versions, an example of the 2011 online version is shown below; all other previous versions can be found at training.cochrane.org/versions-and-changes-handbook. References from previous versions of the Handbook need to be formatted in the way shown below, and not as recommended within the Handbooks themselves.

 

2021 online version: Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 

Note: make sure to use the reference type 'Other', and not 'Book' or 'Section of book'.

To cite the full online Handbook, please use:

Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 6.2 (updated February 2021). Cochrane, 2021. Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook.

Reference type Other
Authors Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, editor(s)
English title Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 6.2 (updated February 2021). Cochrane, 2021
Journal/book/source Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook

 

2019 book version: Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 

To cite the print edition of the Handbook, please use:

Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. 2nd Edition. Chichester (UK): John Wiley & Sons, 2019.

Reference type Book
Authors Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, editor(s)
English title Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions
Date of publication 2019
Edition 2nd
Publisher name John Wiley & Sons
City of publication Chichester (UK)

 

2011 online version: Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 

Note: the online version of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions has been replaced by a more current version (version 6.2). We are keeping the 2011 online version in the Style Manual for practical reasons, but make sure to cite the version used in the review. Also make sure to use the reference type 'Other', and not 'Book' or 'Section of book'.

Example: Higgins JP, Green S, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 (updated March 2011). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011. Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook/archive/v5.1/.

Reference type Other
Authors Higgins JP, Green S, editor(s)
English title Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 (updated March 2011). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011
Journal/book/source Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook/archive/v5.1/


 

Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy

Note: make sure to use the reference type 'Other', and not 'Book' or 'Section of book'.

Example: Deeks JJ, Bossuyt PM, Gatsonis C, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Version 1.0.0. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2013. Available from srdta.cochrane.org.

Reference type Other
Authors Deeks JJ, Bossuyt PM, Gatsonis C, editor(s)
English title Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Version 1.0.0. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2013
Journal/book/source Available from srdta.cochrane.org

 

GRADE Handbook

Example: Schünemann H, Brożek J, Guyatt G, Oxman A, editor(s). Handbook for grading the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations using the GRADE approach (updated October 2013). GRADE Working Group, 2013. Available from gdt.guidelinedevelopment.org/app/handbook/handbook.html

Reference type Other
Authors Schünemann H, Brożek J, Guyatt G, Oxman A, editor(s)
English title Handbook for grading the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations using the GRADE approach (updated October 2013). GRADE Working Group, 2013
Journal/book/source Available from gdt.guidelinedevelopment.org/app/handbook/handbook.html

 

Handbook chapters

Note: the new version (version 6) of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions was published in book and online form in October 2019. The online version was updated in February 2021 (version 6.2), so if citing chapters in the online version please cite version 6.2. Chapters in the book version should only be cited if the book version was used as the reference material.   

If authors need to cite previous versions, an example of a chapter from the 2011 online version is shown below; all other previous versions can be found at training.cochrane.org/versions-and-changes-handbook. References from previous versions of the Handbook need to be formatted in the way shown below, and not as recommended within the Handbooks themselves.

 

2021 online version: Chapter of the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews of Interventions with authors

Note: make sure to use the reference type 'Other', and not 'Book' or 'Section of book'.

Example: Lefebvre C, Glanville J, Briscoe S, Littlewood A, Marshall C, Metzendorf M-I, et al. Chapter 4: Searching for and selecting studies. In: Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 6.2 (updated February 2021). Cochrane, 2021. Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook.

Reference type Other
Authors Lefebvre C, Glanville J, Briscoe S, Littlewood A, Marshall C, Metzendorf M-I, et al
English title Chapter 4: Searching for and selecting studies. In: Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 6.2 (updated February 2021). Cochrane, 2021
Journal/book/source Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook 

 

2019 book version: Chapter of the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews of Interventions with authors

Example: Lefebvre C, Glanville J, Briscoe S, Littlewood A, Marshall C, Metzendorf M-I, et al. Chapter 4: Searching for and selecting studies. In: Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. 2nd Edition. Chichester (UK): John Wiley & Sons, 2019:67-108.

Reference type Section of book
Authors Lefebvre C, Glanville J, Briscoe S, Littlewood A, Marshall C, Metzendorf M-I, et al
English title Chapter 4: Searching for and selecting studies
Journal/book/source Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions
Date of publication 2019
Pages 67-108
Edition 2nd
Editor(s) Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA
Publisher name John Wiley & Sons
City of publication Chichester (UK)

 

2011 online version: Chapter of the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews of Interventions with authors

Note: the online version of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions has been replaced by a more current version (version 6.2). We are keeping the old online version in the Style Manual for practical reasons, but make sure to cite the version used in the review. Also make sure to use the reference type 'Other', and not 'Book' or 'Section of book'.

Example: Lefebvre C, Manheimer E, Glanville J. Chapter 6: Searching for studies. In: Higgins JP, Green S, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 (updated March 2011). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011. Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook/archive/v5.1/.

Reference type Other
Authors Lefebvre C, Manheimer E, Glanville J
English title Chapter 6: Searching for studies. In: Higgins JP, Green S, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 (updated March 2011). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011
Journal/book/source Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook/archive/v5.1/

 

2021 online version: Chapter of Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions with editors

Note: make sure to use the reference type 'Other', and not 'Book' or 'Section of book'.

Example: Li T, Higgins JP, Deeks JJ, editor(s). Chapter 5: Collecting data. In: Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 6.2 (updated February 2021). Cochrane, 2021. Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook.

Reference type Other
Authors Li T, Higgins JP, Deeks JJ, editor(s)
English title Chapter 5: Collecting data. In: Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 6.2 (updated February 2021). Cochrane, 2021
Journal/book/source Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook

 

2019 book version: Chapter of Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions with editors

Example: Li T, Higgins JP, Deeks JJ, editor(s). Chapter 5: Collecting data. In: Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. 2nd Edition. Chichester (UK): John Wiley & Sons, 2019:109-142.

Reference type Section of book
Authors Li T, Higgins JP, Deeks JJ, editor(s)
English title Chapter 5: Collecting data
Journal/book/source Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions
Date of publication 2019
Pages 109-142
Edition 2nd
Editor(s) Higgins JP, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA
Publisher name John Wiley & Sons
City of publication Chichester (UK)

 

2011 online version: Chapter of Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions with editors

Note: the online version of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions has been replaced by a more current version (version 6.2). We are keeping the old online version in the Style Manual for practical reasons, but make sure to cite the version used in the review. Also make sure to use the reference type 'Other', and not 'Book' or 'Section of book'.

Example: O’Connor D, Green S, Higgins JP, editor(s). Chapter 5: Defining the review question and developing criteria for including studies. In: Higgins JP, Green S, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 (updated March 2011). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011. Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook/archive/v5.1/.

Reference type Other
Authors O’Connor D, Green S, Higgins JP, editor(s)
English title Chapter 5: Defining the review question and developing criteria for including studies. In: Higgins JP, Green S, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 (updated March 2011). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011
Journal/book/source Available from training.cochrane.org/handbook/archive/v5.1/

 

Chapter of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy

Note: make sure to use the reference type 'Other', and not 'Book' or 'Section of book'.

Example: Deeks JJ, Wisniewski S, Davenport C, editor(s). Chapter 4: Guide to the contents of a Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Protocol. In: Deeks JJ, Bossuyt PM, Gatsonis C, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Version 1.1. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2013. Available from methods.cochrane.org/sdt/handbook-dta-reviews.

Reference type Other
Authors Deeks JJ, Wisniewski S, Davenport C, editor(s)
English title Chapter 4: Guide to the contents of a Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Protocol. In: Deeks JJ, Bossuyt PM, Gatsonis C, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Version 1.1. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2013
Journal/book/source Available from methods.cochrane.org/sdt/handbook-dta-reviews

 

Cochrane Editorial and Publishing Policy Resource

Note: this can be entered in RevMan 5 by using the reference type 'Other' and pasting the full reference in the 'English Title' field. Make sure to update the access date.

Example: Cochrane Editorial and Methods Department. Cochrane Editorial and Publishing Resource. community.cochrane.org/editorial-and-publishing-policy-resource (accessed on 9 May 2018).

Example: Cochrane Editorial and Methods Department. Permission to re-use material from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Cochrane Editorial and Publishing Resource (updated 18 June 2018). community.cochrane.org/editorial-and-publishing-policy-resource/cochrane-review-management/cochrane-peer-review-policy (accessed on 9 August 2018).

Cochrane Style Manual and Style Basics

See How to cite.

Section info
Contact
John Hilton (jhilton@cochrane.org)
Describe change
Updated guidance on how to cite version 6 of the Cochrane Handbook (whole Handbook, Chapters with authors, Chapters with editors) to version 6.2 (February 2021).
Change date
5 March 2021