Cochrane Library Training Day

During a couple of days at the end of August, members of SHINE were given the opportunity of attending Cochrane Library training held at Glasgow University. Not only did we have the pleasure of meeting Ruth Frankish the Cochrane Library trainer, but each day was free of charge as well which made it all excellent value!

In the morning session we received an introduction to Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Collaboration and the Cochrane Library from Ruth and then had a go at answering the question sheets which were provided, discussing when randomised controlled trials would be very useful for answering health questions and when not so useful. Then we were let loose on the database itself in the first hands-on session.

In the afternoon hands-on session, after an interval just about long enough for a quick liquid lunch, we explored the database in much more depth looking at not just the full-text records but also the statistics and the rather alarming meta-analysis diagrams incorporated in the reviews. Luckily, Ruth was at the ready to rescue us if we had problems and to answer any queries.

OK! For all those who attended the course! Could you answer this? Does vitamin C help to prevent the common cold? Do you remember what is meant by Weighted Means Difference (WMD)? Thanks to Ruth, it was all made to sound very straightforward and when I came away from the day on a wave of Cochrane euphoria, I felt completely confident about odds-ration diagrams, lines of no effect and felt sure I could quite cheerfully explain a blobagram to a five-year old. But if you asked me now, a few of months later? Help! Where are my course notes...?

Avril Conacher
Gartnavel Royal Hospital

Editor's Note:- Plans are in hand to host further training sessions with Ruth Frankish later this year. It is hoped that again one session will be held in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow. Look out for further details in due course.