International activity within Collaborative Review Groups

Article type
Authors
Allen C, Wyatt D, Clarke M
Abstract
Objective: To assess international activity within Collaborative Review Groups of The Cochrane Collaboration.

Methods: Using Issue 1, 2005 of The Cochrane Library, data was taken from the section headed 'Editorial information' in each Collaborative Review Group's module (repeating the exercise done 12, 24, 36 and 54 months previously). Data were extracted into a spreadsheet by one of the authors (CA), and can be analyzed by type of contributor (Advisors, Authors, Consumers, Co-ordinating Editors, Criticism Editors, Handsearchers, other Editors, Referees, Review Group Co-ordinators, Translators, Trials Search Co-ordinators, and other members of the editorial team), and the country in which they reside. If a country had not been allocated to an individual, she or he was not included. Individuals listed in more than one category or in more than one module were counted each time.

Results: Of the 50 Collaborative Review Groups, 13,047 contributors were identified from a total of 97 countries. This is an increase from 11,517 contributors and 91 countries, since the beginning of 2004. In 2003 there were 9281 contributors in 83 countries; 2002, 7727 contributors in 78 countries; and in 2000, 5436 contributors in 64 countries. The number of contributors based in countries classified by The World Bank as low, lower-middle, or upper-middle income economies has continued to increase: 1292 (10.9%) of the contributors compared with 1079 (9.4%) in 2004, 762 (8.2%) in 2003, 552 (7.1%) in 2002, and 307 (5.6%) in 2000. In 2005, 7543 (58%) of all contributors were listed as review authors, compared with 6695 (58%) in 2004, 5159 (55%) in 2003, 4250 (55%) in 2002, and 2840 (52%) in 2000. Additional analyses will be included in our presentation. See map below.

Conclusions: The activity within Cochrane Collaborative Review Groups continues to grow in regard to both the number of contributors, and the international nature of the organisation. The relative contribution of different countries is variable, but there is a clear year on year increase in the number of contributors from low, lower-middle and upper-middle income economy countries. This increase is proportionally greater than for high-income economy countries. The spreadsheet is available from the Cochrane Collaboration Secretariat (callen@cochrane.org).