Objectives:

* To provide a companion product to the Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook to assist Reviewers in navigating the Handbook and provide material additional to the Handbook
* To guide Reviewers through performing a systematic review such that at completion of each module of the material a consecutive part of their review could be completed
* To increase the access to training for reviewers in remote locations
* To improve the quality of Cochrane reviews through more comprehensive reviewer training
* To provide an ongoing reference for reviewers at the completion of training

Methods: A collaborative project between Cochrane Centres and the Statistics Methods Group was completed in July 2002, approved by the Handbook Advisory Group and implemented with the help of a Steering Committee comprising members of the Cochrane Collaboration with an interest in training reviewers. The materials were produced in self contained CD-ROM and paper based format, with optional links to relevant Internet sites, to ensure equal access for reviewers without Internet facility. A set of principles ensuring free access to Cochrane reviewers and appropriate use by non-Cochrane reviewers were established.

Results: The program comprises 20 core and three additional modules, the content and format of which of which will be displayed.