Background: For most reviewers the production of Cochrane systematic reviews is not a professional activity. Only a few people are employed full time by The Cochrane Collaboration. This makes the process of review production difficult to manage and control. This is reflected in the number of reviews relative to the number of protocols and titles. There were about 2800 protocols and titles and 2600 reviews in the system on 31 March 2006. It is one of the tasks and objectives of the Cochrane Occupational Health Field to support occupational health reviews. To this effect, we have developed several methods for managing reviews.

Objectives: To list and evaluate different forms of support for producing Cochrane systematic reviews.

Methods: Personal experiences of the Cochrane Occupational Health Field.

Results: For starting and supporting reviews and reviewers the following three methods were developed and used: 1. A grant and support system attracted six reviewers (average grant 7000 Euros) who started in March 2005. Reviewers were supported in four two-day hands-on sessions. After a year none of the reviews was beyond the protocol stage. 2. Two authors were deliberately hired with project money in February 2006 for two months (average sum 8400 Euros) and supported by a content expert from the field. 3. One reviewer who was stuck in the review phase asked for help. A research worker from the field reworked and resubmitted the review in three months.

Conclusions: Insight into the production process of reviews is lacking and badly needed. The production of systematic reviews is difficult to manage. Money helps to get reviews going but not to get them finished. A better support and management system has the potential both for eliminating needless waste of time and resources and for increasing the quality of reviews.