Enhancing methodological developments for Cochrane Public Health Reviews: the role of exemplar reviews

The need to ensure that Cochrane reviews are of most use to stakeholders has never been more poignant than it is now The call for members of The Cochrane Collaboration to address the evidence needs of stakeholders globally1 & the health determinants focus of the Public Health Review Group (PHRG) has highlighted the need for methods & processes that meet these needs. Changes to methodology, which includes expanding study design inclusion, needs to be well thought out & grounded in the practicalities of the review production process itself. These methodological expansions arc essential to avoid wherever possible the outcome of an 'empty review'. Hence the value of 'exemplar reviews' to inform & help shape innovative but equally rigorous methods for conducting reviews of complex interventions-in this case, reviews of interventions addressing the upstream determinants of health for population level health & related outcomes. Adapted from the source document.