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Box 2.2.a: Sections of a protocol for a Cochrane review

Title*

Protocol information:

        Authors*

        Contact person*

        Dates

        What’s new

        History

The protocol: 

        Background*

        Objectives*

        Methods:

                 Criteria for selecting studies for this review:

                         Types of studies*

                         Types of participants*

                         Types of interventions*

                         Types of outcome measures*

        Search methods for identification of studies*

                 Data collection and analysis*

         Acknowledgements

         References:

                 Other references:

                         Additional references

                         Other published versions of this review

         Tables and figures:

                 Additional tables

                 Figures

Supplementary information:

         Appendices

         Feedback:

                 Title

                 Summary

                 Reply

                 Contributors

About the article:

         Contributions of authors

         Declarations of interest*

         Sources of support:

                 Internal sources

                 External sources

         Published notes