How can we ensure that Cochrane’s standards and approaches to Plain Language Summaries are implemented? A discussion workshop

Article type
Authors
Glenton C1, Treweek S2, Santesso N3, Goudie S4, Fonhus MS5
1Cochrane Norway
2University of Aberdeen
3Cochrane Applicability and Recommendations Methods Group, McMaster University
4The Campbell Collaboration
5Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, EPOC
Abstract
Objectives: We will discuss how to produce better Cochrane Plain Language Summaries (PLS) and how review groups and others can implement proposed new PLS standards and guidelines.
Description: Most people do not read full Cochrane Reviews, but are more likely to read Plain Language Summaries. This means that if we wish to improve access to reviews, we need to focus on improving PLSs. While the quality of the PLSs has improved over the past 10 years, they still vary in terms of structure, content and language: some are good, many are poor.
This is an interactive session. We will summarise the current PLS standards before introducing a new template for Cochrane PLS that builds on the 'Summary of findings' table and standard ways of writing conclusions. Participants will identify barriers and facilitators to implementing the new PLS standards and template.
Our goal is to improve the dissemination of Cochrane Reviews by making concrete plans to help authors, editorial teams and review author trainers write better quality PLSs. We will consider issues such as who should write a PLS, what formats and dissemination platforms should be used, and whether the PLSs might be used as Cochrane products in their own right.