Welcome to the second issue of the digest for 2017. We're bringing you news of the partnership between Epistemonikos and Cochrane, a chance to influence the development of ClinicalTrials.gov, an update on CRS Web and some great training opportunities. Let us know if there's a topic you want us to look at, a research paper you want to share, or a question you want to ask us: cis-support@cochrane.org.
Epistemonikos partnership
Launch of official partnership between Epistemonikos and Cochrane
As some of you will be aware, Cochrane have announced a new, formalised partnership with the Epistemonikos Foundation. A memorandum of understanding was signed in December, and the systematic reviews included in the Epistemonikos database will soon be searchable via the Cochrane Library.
The Epistemonikos Foundation is a not for profit organization based in Santiago, Chile. Epistemonikos was founded by Gabriel Rada and Daniel Pérez, it is a collaborative, multilingual database of research evidence. The aim of Epistemonikos is to provide rapid access to systematic reviews in health, it links together systematic reviews, broad syntheses of reviews and primary studies. In addition, it includes translations of the titles and abstracts of included records to facilitate searching in 9 different languages. It is continually updated by searching multiple sources to find systematic reviews and broad syntheses of reviews. It is not a comprehensive database of health research however, as it only includes primary studies that have been included in a systematic review.
For more information on what is included in the database, click here.
For more information on how to search Epistemonikos click here.
Try out ClinicalTrials.gov's new interface
Beta testing of ClinicalTrials.gov
A new interface for ClinicalTrials.gov is now available for testing, here. The beta site will be available for at least one month to obtain feedback from the public. The new version of ClinicalTrials.gov was developed to provide new features to support searching for clinical studies.You can let them know what you think by clicking the "give feedback" link at the top right hand side of the page and filling in their survey.
CRS Web developments
CRS Web progress
CRS Web reached a milestone this month when more people were live on the system than on the demo site. The most recent update to CRS Web was completed over the last weekend in January, you can find out all about the changes here. New versions of CRS Web will be rolled out every four to six weeks, and we will continue to let you know of the fixes and updates that are in place.
We will be hosting a drop-in webinar on 23 February at 9am GMT to answer any questions you might have. Register for this at:
(after registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar).
Email us at cis-support@cochrane.org to let us know in advance if there is a topic you'd like us to cover on the 23rd.
Did you know? There are a number of help resources available within CRS Web (demo and live). Click on Help in the top right corner of the screen to get a list of topics. If there is a symbol, then the topic has a video associated with it as well. More videos will be added over the coming months.
If you haven't yet moved over to CRS Web (demo or live) and want to talk to us about it, contact us at cis-support@cochrane.org.
Training opportunities
Webinars on the PICO Annotator
An introductory webinar to the PICO annotator is being held by Deirdre Beecher, there are four opportunities to attend (details below). Follow the link on the time/date that suits you to register your interest. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar:
These webinars will provide an introduction to the annotation process and tools that are used at present. They will be followed by a PICOthon at the UK/Ireland Symposium in Oxford 2017. At the end of the webinar participants should be more familiar with the annotation process and have a basic understanding of the tools that are used.
There are more planned for later in the year, so if these times don’t suit you, there will be more opportunities to learn about the Annotator in the coming months.
YHEC Courses
The York Health Economics Consortium in York, UK is offering the following courses in information retrieval later this year. Follow the links for more information.
Advanced search techniques and strategy design - 27 February to 2 March
Searching trials registers and the World Health Organization Portal (ICTRP) and regulatory agency sources - 14 and 15 March
These courses are offered by Cochrane Switzerland in partnership with the University of Bern Library. They will take place in Bern and will be facilitated by Julie Glanville and Carol Lefebvre (co-convenors of the Cochrane Information Retrieval Methods Group).
ScHARR Short Course Unit: The Identification and Review of Evidence to Inform
Cost Effectiveness Models
This one day course will be held at the University of Sheffield in the UK on 23 March 2017. The course will enable participants to develop an understanding of the methods available for the identification and review of evidence to inform cost effectiveness models. The course will consist of three sessions:
1. Practical conceptual modelling methods
2. Identification of evidence to inform models
3. Reviewing of evidence to inform models
During the sessions there will be presentations to illustrate the main issues, structured small group discussions working through a set of related questions and practical exercises. The course will be delivered by researchers experienced in health technology assessment in the UK including a cost-effectiveness modeller, information specialist and systematic reviewer.
Jane Hayes, Information Specialist with the Cochrane Gynaecological, Neuro-oncology and Orphan Cancers Group, will be retiring at the end of February this year. Her colleague Jo Platt sent us this great tribute:
Jane has been Information Specialist with GNOC for almost nine years, having started with the Group in April 2008 when the Group was awarded one of the first Cochrane NIHR Programme Grants.
Jane has developed & provided an amazing information specialist service to our authors and review group team over the years, and has designed many of the systems and procedures that form the foundation of the Group’s information infrastructure today.
On both a personal and professional level, we will be sad to see Jane leave, but we are thrilled that she is pursuing a part-time professional gardening career in some beautiful grounds & gardens in and around Gloucestershire.
We know that many of you will have met Jane at conferences and symposiums over the years, and that you will join us in wishing her all the very best in her retirement and future plans.
Contact us...
Don't forget, previous editions of the Cochrane Information Specialist Support Team digest are available on the CIS Portal
Contact the Support Team for help with any Cochrane Information Specialist related issue (including CRS technical support): cis-support@cochrane.org
The Cochrane Information Specialist Support Team:
Sam Faulkner I Ruth Foxlee
Anne Littlewood I Doug Salzwedel
symbol, then the topic has a video associated with it as well. More videos will be added over the coming months.
