Library

Cochrane Library

Yooo

Blog home

Cochrane Library/h1>

Image of stethoscope and laptop

Cochrane is an international network dedicated to high-quality evidence-based care in health and medicine. The Cochrane Library provides a collection of databases which support this aim:

  • The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews searches the systematic reviews produced by Cochrane’s many review groups. These systematic reviews are regarded as very high quality evidence. The full text of the systematic reviews is available.
  • CENTRAL, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, searches for records of clinical trials from a variety of sources. The full text of the trials is not included, but there is sufficient information provided to be able to track it down.
  • Cochrane Clinical Answers summarises the evidence relating to specific clinical questions (for example, “In people with aphasia following stroke, how does the use of speech and language therapy affect outcomes?”).

Cochrane also provides access to some information on other systematic reviews, provided by Epistemonikos and the McMaster Health Forum (this information doesn’t always appear, depending on the type of search you do).

Why use it?

For quantitative research into the effects of medical interventions, systematic reviews and clinical trials are considered to be the strongest forms of evidence. A resource which focuses on these two types of evidence is therefore extremely useful. However, for qualitative research, such as investigations into people’s lived experience, we would suggest using other databases.

The Advanced Search feature allows you to build complex, structured searches. A quick search is also possible. Searches for reviews can be filtered by data, topic and by what is being reviewed (such as an intervention or a diagnostic tool).

How do I use it?

You will get the most out of the Cochrane Library by using the Advanced Search page. This page also has links to additional tools relating to Medical Subject Headings and PICO, which you may wish to use if you are carrying out a structured literature reviews.

On the Advanced Search page, use one search box for each concept in your search. Additional boxes can be created by clicking the plus symbol. If there is more than one word for a concept, you can include all the variations, putting OR in between each of them – this will widen the amount of information that you find. For most searches, it is best to leave the search on the default option of searching Title, Abstract and Keywords. Once you have entered your search words, click Run Search.

[Image Cochrane-search. Alt Text = Two search boxes. Each has a drop-down menu next to it, where an option reading Title Abstract Keyword has been selected. Between the boxes is a drop-down option displaying the word AND. In the first box are the words COPD OR "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease". In the second box, singing OR sing OR choir OR choral.]

The results are separated out according to which of the Cochrane Library databases they come from. Click through the tabs to check different types of information. If you have your screen zoomed in, some of these may appear through a “More” tab.

[Image Cochrane-tabs. Alt text = A row of tabs from a website. The first is in bold and reads Cochrane Reviews: 6. Subsequent tabs list Cochrane Protocols, Trials, Editorials, Special Collections and Clinical Answers, each displaying a number for how many results were found.]

Watch this video to see a search in action:

If you are looking at the details on the Trials tab, you will not generally be able to access the complete trial details. In some cases, there will be a link to a register of trials, which will give up-to-date information on the trial, often including experiments which are ongoing or unpublished. If the trial has details of where it has been published, you can copy/paste the title into LibrarySearch to see whether CCCU has access to that paper.

Where can I find it?

The Cochrane Library is free to access in many countries, so you can go direct to http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/ or:

  • Go to LibrarySearch.
  • Log in using your CCCU username and password. If you are away from campus, or connecting with your own device over Wi-Fi, you will need to include @canterbury.ac.uk after your CCCU username.
  • Select Find Databases, then click on C, finally click on the link to Cochrane Library to open it in a new tab.

Accessibility features

The Cochrane Library complies with web accessibility guidelines and recommends ensuring that your web browser is up-to-date for the best experience.

For more information, see Cochrane’s accessibility page.

Apply your learning

Try searching the Cochrane Library by following the steps outlined below. You’ll practice using some of the most common functions and be ready to search for information for your assignments.

  1. Go to the Advanced Search page on the Cochrane Library site.
  2. Enter the word hypertension in the search box.
  3. Add a second search box using the +/Add search line button. Enter diet into this box and then click Run search.
  4. Explore the information that has been found on the Cochrane Reviews, Trials and Cochrane Answers tabs. If not all of these appear, use the More menu.
  5. Reflect on the type of information appearing in your search. How could you use this information in your assignments?
  6. Run the search again, this time adding alternative words for hypertension and/or diet into the boxes. See what effect this has on the results.

Further help

Your Learning and Research Librarian will be able to help you make the best use of online resources. Email with your query or, for detailed guidance, book a tutorial.