Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: As the Cochrane Collaboration expands, review groups are exploring different ways to support new and experienced reviewers and expand capacity in a variety of countries. Cochrane satellites are seen as a way of increasing review group capacity, improving access and supporting reviews that are of priority to a particular region or country. There are currently eleven satellites registered with the Cochrane Collaboration, the majority in Australia (6) with satellites in the USA, Norway, South Africa, India and Brazil. The Cochrane Collaboration has yet to set formal guidance on how review groups should go about setting up a satellite or highlighted the advantages or disadvantages of doing so.
Objectives: To detail ways of identifying the need for setting up a satellite; the process of establishing a satellite with the Cochrane Collaboration; advantages and disadvantages of setting up a satellite and to provide guidance on how to overcome problems. Findings from the Australian satellite 18-month review are presented.
Methods: Personal experiences and findings from the two EPOC satellites in Australia and Norway.
Results: The Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Group has established satellites in Australia (October 2005) to support the production of reviews and updates of relevance to the Australasian region and in Norway (November 2006) to support the production and updating of Cochrane reviews that are relevant to low and middle-income countries (LMIC). At present to establish a satellite with the Cochrane Collaboration, letters of support are required from the reference Cochrane Centre of the country where the editorial base is located and the country where the satellite is located, and the structure, workplan and communications strategy are approved by the Steering Group The Australian satellite is funded by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing for 3 years to support the production and updating of reviews that are of priority to the Australasian region. The satellite has been in operation for 18 months and at the 'half way' mark the satellite is forecast to achieve its targets (increase in reviews of Australian priority, training and support program, extensive dissemination strategy) and has contributed substantially to the productivity of the EPOC review group. With the addition of the satellite in Norway, procedures have been implemented to facilitate effective working relationships between the satellites and the review group.
Conclusions: Satellites are one way for review groups to increase their review capacity and dedicate resources to reviews of priority to a particular region or content area. The Cochrane EPOC group has established 2 satellites in Australia and Norway. Eighteen-month results from the Australian satellite suggest that if procedures and communication strategies are put in place, satellites can be an effective way of supporting locally-based review teams and increasing the productivity of review groups.
Objectives: To detail ways of identifying the need for setting up a satellite; the process of establishing a satellite with the Cochrane Collaboration; advantages and disadvantages of setting up a satellite and to provide guidance on how to overcome problems. Findings from the Australian satellite 18-month review are presented.
Methods: Personal experiences and findings from the two EPOC satellites in Australia and Norway.
Results: The Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Group has established satellites in Australia (October 2005) to support the production of reviews and updates of relevance to the Australasian region and in Norway (November 2006) to support the production and updating of Cochrane reviews that are relevant to low and middle-income countries (LMIC). At present to establish a satellite with the Cochrane Collaboration, letters of support are required from the reference Cochrane Centre of the country where the editorial base is located and the country where the satellite is located, and the structure, workplan and communications strategy are approved by the Steering Group The Australian satellite is funded by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing for 3 years to support the production and updating of reviews that are of priority to the Australasian region. The satellite has been in operation for 18 months and at the 'half way' mark the satellite is forecast to achieve its targets (increase in reviews of Australian priority, training and support program, extensive dissemination strategy) and has contributed substantially to the productivity of the EPOC review group. With the addition of the satellite in Norway, procedures have been implemented to facilitate effective working relationships between the satellites and the review group.
Conclusions: Satellites are one way for review groups to increase their review capacity and dedicate resources to reviews of priority to a particular region or content area. The Cochrane EPOC group has established 2 satellites in Australia and Norway. Eighteen-month results from the Australian satellite suggest that if procedures and communication strategies are put in place, satellites can be an effective way of supporting locally-based review teams and increasing the productivity of review groups.