CCInfo: Electronic news bulletin of The Cochrane Collaboration 3 August 2006 Contents: A. Election Results 2006: Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group B. New orientation resources for consumers C. South Asian Cochrane Network workshops D. Cochrane News Issue 37 now available E. New MeerKat User Guide available F. Tip on seasonal naming G. University of Birmingham epidemiology module H. Job ads I. New books and articles J. Next issue of CCInfo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A. Sender: Claire Allen [CAllen@cochrane.org] Subject: Election Results 2006: Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group Please note, and forward to the members of your entity, the following results of this year's elections to the Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group: - Representing the Consumer Network: Janet Wale (Australia) - re-elected for a second term. - Representing Centres (Centre staff): Joy Oliver (South Africa). Janet and Joy will join the Steering Group at the Annual General Meetings during the Dublin Colloquium, on Wednesday 25 October 2005 at 11.00 a.m. The length of their term of office (as with other CCSG members) is dependent on the results of the current review of the Steering Group. Congratulations to those who have been elected, commiserations to the other candidates. Thanks to Brian Allen, who acted as my co-electoral officer and checked my counting of the votes. With best wishes, Claire XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX B. Sender: Janet Wale [socrates@q-net.net.au] Subject: New orientation resources for consumers The Cochrane Consumer Network has updated its Resources section on www.cochrane.org/consumers so that we now have an Orientation folder for consumers in a format that is easily downloaded. There are also some guidelines for contributing to plain language summaries. Best wishes Janet Wale CCNet-Contact XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX C. Sender: Prathap Tharyan [prathap@cmcvellore.ac.in] Subject: South Asian Cochrane Network workshops South Asian Cochrane Network-coordinating site (www.cochrane-sacn.org) Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India Workshop on Standard and Advanced Statistics in Meta-analysis; August 21-26, 2006 Sponsored by the Cochrane Statistical Methods group Hands on workshop on statistics used in meta-analysis. The workshop on standard statistics used in meta-analysis is aimed at authors of Cochrane Reviews and protocols, Cochrane Review group editors and statisticians and will be followed by the advanced statistics workshop that is aimed at those who have completed the standard workshop and for experienced review authors, editors, and statisticians. Limited to 35 participants. Priority for those residing in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India. Objectives: To support review authors, editors and statisticians to understand the concepts and methods used in meta-analysis Part I: Standard statistical methods used in meta-analysis Meta-analysis: - Calculating and interpreting different measures of treatment effects for binary, continuous and survival data - Choosing the right effect measure - Indirect estimation of treatment effect when direct estimation is not possible from published data - Carrying out fixed effects meta-analysis using different methods (Mantel-Haeszel, Peto, Inverse Variance) and interpreting pooled estimates Heterogeneity and meta-regression: - Understanding heterogeneity, and the random effects assumptions - Exploring heterogeneity and interpreting random effect pooled estimates - Understanding methods, pitfalls and interpretation of meta-regression Combining data from different randomised controlled trial designs: - Effectively incorporating data from cross-over and cluster randomised trials in a meta-analysis Bias in Randomised Controlled Trials: - Being aware of the different bias that can be introduced in randomised controlled trials and consequently in the meta-analysis - Understanding and adequately producing the methods section of a review according to the Cochrane guidelines. Part II: Advanced methods in meta-analysis Multiple-treatments meta-analysis: - Introduction to the concepts and methodology of MTM - Understanding the benefits of combining direct and indirect information (greater precision and ranking of treatments) - Exploring different implementation alternatives (Bayesian versus frequentist) - Specific methodological issues (underlying assumptions of the MTM models and evidence consistency) - Bias due to confounding in MTM Meta-analysis in Stata 8: - Carrying out meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and investigating bias - Analyzing datasets Meta-analysis using S-plus/R software: - Carrying out meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and investigating bias Bayesian meta-analysis: - Understanding basic principals of Bayesian inference and the advantages of Bayesian meta-analysis - Understanding convergence issues, prior specification and sensitivity to prior distributions - Performing Bayesian Meta-analysis using WinBUGS Resource person: Dr. Georgia Salanti, member, Cochrane Statistical Methods Group; Statistical Advisor, CCochrane Psychosocial, Developmental and Learning Difficulties Group; Lecturer in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Ioannina, Greece. Cost: Rs. 3000 for both courses: this covers course materials, refreshments and lunch on workshop days and a social evening. Closing date: August 15, 2006 Please contact Zenobia Kanagaraj, Administrator, SACN at cochrane@cmcvellore.ac.in for details about registration and accommodation. Detailed workshop time-table and registration from can be downloaded from www.cochrane-sacn.org. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX D. Sender: Miranda Cumpston [cochrane@uottawa.ca] Subject: Cochrane News Issue 37 now available Dear colleagues, The new edition of Cochrane News – Issue 27, August 2006 – is now available for download from www.cochrane.org/newsletters. This issue contains news on the Steering Group meetings in Khon Khaen, the revised QUOROM Statement, the 2006 Cochrane Collaboration Visiting Fellowship, the relevance of reviews for consumers and much more. all the best, Miranda XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX E. Sender: Sally Hopewell [SHopewell@cochrane.co.uk] Subject: New MeerKat User Guide available Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce the arrival of the new MeerKat User Guide (for MeerKat version 1.4) which is now available free to download from the MeerKat website: www.cochrane.co.uk/en/meerkatsupportpages.htm. The MeerKat User Guide provides practical help and advice in using MeerKat to its full potential as a tool for managing your study based register. The Guide was compiled by Judy Wright the Trials Search Co-ordinator from the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, with input from Tessa Grant (Cochrane Schizophrenia Group) and members of the MeerKat Working Group. We are grateful to The Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group who provided the funds to develop this User Guide. We hope that you will find the Guide useful and would welcome any feedback which you may have. If you would like a printed version of the User Guide please contact Judy Wright: jwright@cochrane-sz.org Best wishes Sally on behalf of the MeerKat Working Group XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX F. Sender: Miranda Cumpston [cochrane@uottawa.ca] Subject: Tip on seasonal naming When sending out your Cochrane Group newsletter or announcing an event, don't forget your colleagues in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed. Labelling your newsletter as 'Summer 2006' may be confusing to those in the south, where it's currently winter. Please consider using months (such as 'August 2006') to label your newsletters or advise colleagues of coming events. Don't forget that all Cochrane newsletters can be posted to www.cochrane.org/newsletters. To post a newsletter, send a copy to me at cochrane@uottawa.ca. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX G. Sender: Jonathan Roberts [j.r.roberts.1@bham.ac.uk] Subject: University of Birmingham epidemiology module One of the core modules in the Master's in Public Health run in the Division of Primary Care, Public and Occupational Health at the University of Birmingham is 'Epidemiology, Statistics and Health Information'. This is also available as a distance-learning module and we are currently accepting applications for the course starting mid-October this year. If you are interested in learning about health information, epidemiology and statistics and are happy to study this module by distance learning, please contact Dr Catherine Meads on 0121 414 6771 email c.a.meads@bham.ac.uk for further information. http://pcpoh.bham.ac.uk/publichealth/programmes/hta/index.htm Many Thanks Jon Roberts XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX H. Sender: Victor M. Montori [Montori.Victor@mayo.edu] Subject: Job ads Position: Systematic Review Coordinator Organisation: Knowledge and Encounter Research Unit, Mayo Clinic Location: Rochester, Minnesota, USA Application deadline: none Contact: Colleen King (Pelkey.Colleen@mayo.edu) Web: www.cochrane.org/jobs XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I. Sender: Eric Manheimer [emanheimer@compmed.umm.edu] Subject: New books and articles Paper: Updating systematic reviews Author: Linde K. Journal: Explore (NY). Details: 2006 Jul;2(4):363-4. PMID: 16846827 Web: www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830706002655/fulltext XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX J. Sender: Miranda Cumpston [cochrane@uottawa.ca] Subject: Next issue of CCInfo The next regular issue of CCInfo will be published on Thursday, 17 August 2006. Please submit your items to cochrane@uottawa.ca. When submitting messages for CCInfo, please include "CCInfo" in the subject line of your email so that I can readily identify submissions. Unless you request otherwise, your submissions to the CCInfo may be duplicated in other regular Cochrane Collaboration news channels, such as Cochrane News and the Cochrane Collaboration web site, at the discretion of the editors. regards, Miranda Miranda Cumpston Education Coordinator The Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre Institute for Work & Health 481 University Ave, Suite 800 Toronto, ON M5G 2E9 Canada Ph: +1 416 927 2027 x2193 Fax: 416 927 4167 Email: cochrane@uottawa.ca Web: www.cochrane.uottawa.ca XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ______________________________________________ To subscribe to CCInfo, send an email to listserv@listserv.uottawa.ca with the message text "SUBSCRIBE CCINFO-L" (leave the subject line blank). To unsubscribe, send the message text "SIGNOFF CCINFO-L".