There is a formal mechanism on The Cochrane Library to facilitate and manage feedback from users of reviews. Feedback, formerly called Comments and Criticisms, is designed to “…amend reviews in the light of new evidence…to reflect the emergence of new data, valid feedback, solicited or unsolicited, from whatever source” (Chalmers 1994).
Feedback on a review can be received at any time after publication and will be sent to the Feedback editor of the responsible CRG. This editor will ensure that the feedback and language is appropriate and then will pass it on to review authors for response (usually required within one month of sending). When responding to feedback, authors are asked to:
confine the response to the points made in the feedback;
reply to every substantive point, explicitly stating whether the author agrees or disagrees with the feedback and providing supporting evidence where necessary;
describe any changes made to the review in response to the feedback; and
reply in clear and plain language.
Updating a review provides the opportunity to incorporate feedback into the review, addressing valid concerns and adding any additional studies identified through the feedback mechanism.