Introduction: The relevance of Cochrane reviews can perhaps best be measured by the extent to which they can meet consumers' needs in health and health decision making. This presentation will use the example of the potential and drawbacks of Cochrane reviews in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. Ways that Cochrane reviews can contribute to the issues of most importance to people affected by HIV/AIDS will highlight some of the dimensions of relevance of this type of evidence. The way that consumers can contribute to making Cochrane reviews more relevant in health care systems and people's lives will also be addressed.

Discussion:

Relevance to consumers can be considered in several ways: the relevance of trials and systematic reviews among all the kinds of information that people want and need; and whether what people need and want to know is encompassed within systematic reviews. Above all, the relevance of Cochrane reviews to consumers will depend on action: the extent to which reviews can be used to improve people's lives, access to better health care, and access to information.