If you are completing a Cochrane review or you created a data extraction template before the 5th of November you will be using the old version of the results data tables.

You can find support on the old version of the result data tables here.

For Non-Cochrane reviews that have created a data extraction template after the 1st of November you can find support for the new version of the results data section below.

 

Setting up the template

On the template, you will see all available standard data formats for either continuous or dichotomous outcomes. When extracting result data from studies, the 1st Reviewer will be able to select any of these data formats, so that you can extract data that is relevant for each study.

Adding custom data types

If you want to collect any result data formats that are not in the standard list, then you can add in custom data formats. This is specifically useful if you are collecting qualitative outcomes, as you can add data formats such as “Themes”, “Findings”, “Quotes”. 

You can come back to the template and add custom data formats at any time during data extraction.

 

Extracting data from studies

A table will automatically be created for each outcome you have selected on the outcomes tab. 

Each intervention and time point combination will show as rows. The columns shown by default can be edited by selecting the drop down option. You can also add or delete columns so that you can change the table to suit the data that needs to be extracted from studies. If you need to add more custom data formats, you can add them to the template at any time.

If you want to report between group results e.g. “Intervention vs Control” where “Control” is the reference group, then we recommend leaving the reference group cell blank. You can make a note of which group is a reference group in a custom data format.

Only the 1st Reviewer can edit the results data table. If data has been collected by either Reviewer and you try to remove the column then a warning message will appear to warn you that data will be deleted.

If you are the 2nd Reviewer and want to edit the outcome table you can check who the 1st Reviewer is on the study list and ask them to make any relevant changes. If needed, you can switch the 1st and 2nd Reviewer by clicking "Manage reviewers" and the data they have collected will be transferred along with the reviewer.

 

Help for setting up each section of the template

Below are step by step guides providing tips on how to set up your template for each section: