Cochrane is a global independent network of researchers, professionals, and people interested in health, including healthcare consumers. Cochrane's healthcare consumers are made up from a wide range of people, including patients (or people with personal experience of a healthcare condition), health and social care service users, caregivers and family members. Also included are people who represent or are advocates for patients and carers.

As an evidence-producing and knowledge-diffusing organization, Cochrane’s past, present, and future success is built on the quality of the people it attracts and retains. We are so proud of the tens of thousands of volunteers who work for us because we know that what we do and the impact for good that we have as an organization are rooted in their efforts.That’s why I’m delighted to announce a new initiative which I believe will transform Cochrane in the future.

The Cochrane Review, Portion, package or tableware size for changing selection and consumption of food, alcohol and tobacco, published in the Cochrane Librar

Cochrane’s Project Transform team, in partnership with the LSR Network, have been working away for some time on the methods, and production and publication processes needed for Cochrane to successfully pilot Living Systematic Reviews (LSRs).

Pressing issues in the world of evidence-based research, including best practices on how to improve the production and application of evidence, was the focus at this year’s Cochrane Canada Symposium. 

Putting users at the heart of everything we do is at the core of Cochrane’s Strategy to 2020. Our new KT Strategy elaborates on Strategy to 2020’s fundamental commitment to the dissemination, use and impact of Cochrane evidence. The KT Strategy highlights key areas of focus for Cochrane’s KT work as well as the major audiences we should be serving.

Although Cochrane is known for their systematic reviews found in the Cochrane Library, most people are unaware of the many other Cochrane resources available. Another popular resource is Cochrane podcasts. These can be accessed directly from the Cochrane Library by using the drop down menu “More Resources” to locate the entire catalogue of podcasts.  The catalogue can be searched by podcast title, description or issue.   

Cochrane has partnered with Wikipedia to improve the evidence base of Wikipedia health articlesCochrane has a commitment to producing and sharing high-quality medical evidence to as broad an audience as possible. As a way of achieving this, Cochrane has been working in partnership with Wikipedia since 2014 to improve the evidence base of health articles in Wikipedia, using quality, reliable secondary sources such as recent Cochrane Reviews to help improve the reliability of freely available health information.

Latest research out today has found that psychological therapies, more commonly known as ‘talking treatments’, may help people who self-harm.Self-harm is intentional self-poisoning or self-injury.

A new Cochrane Review, published in the Cochrane Library today, suggests that yoga may have a beneficial effect on symptoms and quality of life in people with asthma, but effects on lung function and medication use are uncertain.