It is essential that Cochrane reviews be undertaken by more than one person. This ensures that tasks such as selection of studies for eligibility and data extraction can be performed by at least two people independently, increasing the likelihood that errors are detected. If more than one team expresses an interest in undertaking a review on the same topic, it is likely that a CRG will encourage them to work together.
Review teams must include expertise in the topic area being reviewed and include, or have access to, expertise in systematic review methodology (including statistical expertise). First-time review authors are encouraged to work with others who are experienced in the process of systematic reviews and to attend training events organized by the Collaboration (see Section 2.3.6). The Cochrane Collaboration is committed to user-involvement in principle (the tenth principle of the Collaboration is enabling wide participation, see Chapter 1, Box 1.1a) and encourages review authors to seek and incorporate the views of users, including consumers, clinicians and those from varying regions and settings in the development of protocols and reviews. Where a review topic is of particular relevance in a region or setting (for example reviews of malaria in the developing world), involvement of people from that setting is encouraged.