Background: The Cochrane Consumer Network provides an end-user perspective on Cochrane reviews during development and facilitates dissemination of findings. Its members are individual consumers and members of patient-support organisations. This prioritisation project was funded by the Cochrane Steering Group. Objectives: To expand our knowledge of the user perspective on existing reviews by: using an online survey to determine how consumers viewed review titles; making links within and external to the Collaboration; providing feedback; and working toward effective communication pathways. Methods: Two project officers initiated and implemented the project. One developed the online survey while working at the German Cochrane Centre; the second worked from Cape Town, and the principle investigator oversaw the project from Australia. The survey ran from 30 October 2007 until 17 March 2008. ‘Advertising’ the survey on www.cochrane.org immediately triggered responses; other mechanisms included individual approaches, newsletters, email lists, handout sheets and online support groups, through our membership; contacting consumer and patient support groups and foundations. Survey information was made available in German, Italian and Spanish. The survey collected some personal information and an assessment of review titles on one of 50 health topics. The review titles were ordered and grouped using sub-headings such as prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. An optional questionnaire on the criteria used when prioritising review titles was included. Results: The countries of origin of the over 600 responses and the health conditions covered were followed while the survey was online. Data analysis was used to interpret the collected results. An overall descriptive analysis was conducted for each identified subgroup, with the development of a database of categorised review titles for each review group. The findings are discussed. Conclusions: This was a successful project for increasing awareness of consumer, patient, caregiver and community needs and for alerting support groups about The Cochrane Library. How it improves access to reviews of particular relevance to end users and promotes evidence-based practice will be determined during the analysis of responses.