Background: The Cochrane Collaboration is dedicated to consumer input, yet consumers are often unsure of what they might have to offer or how they might contribute. Even when consumers have a reasonable understanding of the task, they can find it daunting to contribute often due to a feelings of isolation. Also, experienced consumers find a confidence boost invaluable at times. With about 100 consumers in the UK, it was proposed that a training workshop might be a useful way of overcoming these problems. The aim was to help consumers contribute through commenting on Cochrane reviews from the consumer perspective.

With funding from the UK Cochrane Centre to cover the cost of running the workshop and all consumers travel, accommodation and carer costs, two workshops on Commenting on Cochrane reviews from a consumer perspective were planned, one in London and one in Edinburgh. The first part of the workshop focussed on Making sense of evidence and the second on Commenting on a Cochrane review from the consumer perspective .

Objectives: - To give participants confidence in understanding and explaining the importance of evidence-based care and evidence-based information - To give participants confidence in understanding and explaining the importance of Cochrane reviews - To give participants confidence in commenting on a Cochrane review from the perspective of relevance to consumers - To demonstrate how skills, knowledge and interests can be shared with others - To enable consumers to network and support each other

Results: There were 36 participants across the two workshops, five of whom acted as small group facilitators and there were two workshop leaders. The participants came from a variety of Cochrane groups and with a wide mixture of experience. Over 80% of consumers found the workshop very helpful and a very good use of their time.

In general the consumers liked: - finding out about Cochrane; - small group work; - feedback discussions; - having a confidence boost from knowing that other consumers thought the same about a review - contributing to an active process (the comments on the Cochrane review will be passed to the reviewer, via the review group, as part of the editorial process) - meeting Cochrane consumers from other groups and from their own group;

Conclusion: Consumer training workshops can: - increase consumer confidence in contributing to the work of the Collaboration; - help to motivate consumers; - help consumers to understand more about the research they are contributing to: - helps consumers to find a meaningful way to contribute.
Acknowledgements: UK consumers would like to acknowledge the generous funding provided by the UK Cochrane Centre, in particular their thanks go to Phil Alderson. Thanks also to Nicola Thornton at the Cochrane Centre for help and support.