Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The Cochrane HIV/AIDS Mentoring Programme, a collaborative project of the South African Cochrane Centre (SACC) and the Cochrane HIV/AIDS Review Group (CRG), was established in 2000, when the CRG found that few of its HIV/AIDS systematic reviews were relevant to sub-Saharan Africa, and identified a need for first-time authors from the region to have on-going support.
Objectives: To support first-time authors in conducting Cochrane HIV/AIDS reviews by pairing novice authors (mentees) with more experienced authors (mentors) and thereby building capacity within Africa.
Methods: Authors who register a title with the CRG are offered participation in the Programme. The SACC contacts mentees and assigns a mentor. Mentees usually conduct a review in their field of interest and have good content knowledge. Mentors must have completed a Cochrane review and have methodological expertise and a good understanding of the review process. The SACC provides mentees with resources for review production, e.g. hard copies of The Reviewer's Handbook, assistance with database searching and regular follow ups with mentees to check on progress and if assistance is required.
Results: The Programme has grown considerably with 20 mentees receiving mentorship: 16 from South Africa, two from Kenya, one from Nigeria and one from Cameroon. Five mentors from the United Kingdom, three from South Africa, one from Australia and one from Cameroon are involved. Two mentees with completed reviews have recently become mentors. Three reviews have been published in The Cochrane Library; twelve are in progress, with five protocols published and three protocols submitted for peer review.
The first Review Progress School was held in November 2003, facilitated by the CRG Deputy Co-ordinating Editor and staff of the SACC. Nine mentees attended and the positive evaluation led to a second School being held in January 2005 with six mentees.
Conclusions: This initiative is successful in accomplishing its objectives, particularly in supporting first-time authors and by increasing the number of HIV/AIDS reviews relevant to the region. It is currently expanding to include a South Asian HIV/AIDS Mentoring Programme, and can be used as a model by other CRGs to increase participation by developing country authors.
Objectives: To support first-time authors in conducting Cochrane HIV/AIDS reviews by pairing novice authors (mentees) with more experienced authors (mentors) and thereby building capacity within Africa.
Methods: Authors who register a title with the CRG are offered participation in the Programme. The SACC contacts mentees and assigns a mentor. Mentees usually conduct a review in their field of interest and have good content knowledge. Mentors must have completed a Cochrane review and have methodological expertise and a good understanding of the review process. The SACC provides mentees with resources for review production, e.g. hard copies of The Reviewer's Handbook, assistance with database searching and regular follow ups with mentees to check on progress and if assistance is required.
Results: The Programme has grown considerably with 20 mentees receiving mentorship: 16 from South Africa, two from Kenya, one from Nigeria and one from Cameroon. Five mentors from the United Kingdom, three from South Africa, one from Australia and one from Cameroon are involved. Two mentees with completed reviews have recently become mentors. Three reviews have been published in The Cochrane Library; twelve are in progress, with five protocols published and three protocols submitted for peer review.
The first Review Progress School was held in November 2003, facilitated by the CRG Deputy Co-ordinating Editor and staff of the SACC. Nine mentees attended and the positive evaluation led to a second School being held in January 2005 with six mentees.
Conclusions: This initiative is successful in accomplishing its objectives, particularly in supporting first-time authors and by increasing the number of HIV/AIDS reviews relevant to the region. It is currently expanding to include a South Asian HIV/AIDS Mentoring Programme, and can be used as a model by other CRGs to increase participation by developing country authors.