Background
Cochrane Training resource: writing the protocol
Cochrane Interactive Learning: module 2 - writing the review protocol
| Standard | Rationale and elaboration | Resources | |
| PR3 | Background | Mandatory | |
| Provide a concise description of the condition or problem addressed by the review question, a definition of the intervention and how it might work, and why it is important to do the review. Include the four standard RevMan headings when writing the Background. |
Systematic reviews should have a clearly defined and well-reasoned rationale that has been developed in the context of existing knowledge. Outlining the context of the review question is useful to readers and helps to establish key uncertainties that the review intends to address. Four standard headings are included in RevMan (‘Description of the condition’, ‘Description of the intervention’, ‘How the intervention might work’, and ‘Why it is important to do this review’). |
See Handbook Section III.3.2 | |
| PR4 | Background references | Mandatory | |
| Back up all key supporting statements with references. | Claims or statements regarding aspects such as disease burden, morbidity, prevalence and mechanisms of action should be substantiated and, where available, supported by evidence. |