COCHRANE AIRWAYS GROUP - The Cochrane Collaboration

COCHRANE AIRWAYS GROUP 

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONTENT EDITORS 

The Cochrane Airways Group (CAG) is proud of its achievements in producing high quality systematic reviews. 

However, the recruitment of new members to the editorial team will allow more reviews to be processed more 

efficiently. Therefore we are opening applications for new Editors. If you would like to apply to be a member of the 

CAG Editorial Board, please send a CV and covering letter (outlining how your experience fits with the requirements 

in this document) and fill out the knowledge survey at the end of this form and return to the Managing Editor, Emma 

Welsh (ewelsh@sgul.ac.uk). This specific call is for editors with content expertise, but if you are a methodologist or 

statistician with an interest in getting involved, please contact Emma. 

The editorial base and publication of Cochrane Reviews on the CDSR is managed by the Managing Editor and the 

overall quality of the reviews is ensured by the Coordinating Editor. At the moment the Coordinating Editor fulfils the 

role of statistical editor. Members of our editorial board are experienced in the content of one or more areas in our 

scope and familiar with the methods of the Cochrane Collaboration. These individuals are essential for maintaining 

the quality and relevance of our systematic reviews. 

THE ROLE 

Editors are members of the Airways Group’s editorial team, often not located at the editorial base. Editors have 

three main roles; supporting the editorial base in editing reviews; mentoring and fostering Cochrane values; and 

authoring and maintaining one or more Cochrane Reviews. Editors provide knowledge, experience and mentoring 

within a particular sub-specialty or geographical area to both authors and base staff. There is no financial payment, 

but expenses may be claimed under certain circumstances if agreed in advance. We attempt to recruit a range of 

editors to ensure adequate representation of the various topics covered in our scope. Editorship is by invitation of 

the Coordinating Editor. 

The primary responsibility of an editor is to provide editorial feedback on protocols, reviews and review updates, 

particularly around making sure the review is embedded in the appropriate clinical context. Editors are vital 

individuals in our editorial process. For each review, the Managing Editor assigns an Editor in consultation with the 

editorial board. 

Editors may author reviews; indeed we expect editors to have either published a Cochrane Review in advance of 

becoming an editor or be willing to undertake one in the first year of joining the editorial board. However, we 

believe it is important to differentiate between the roles of author and editor and to make this transparent. Where 

editors play a substantial mentoring role, authorship is naturally warranted. However, to maintain transparency and 

keep potential conflicts of interest with respect to particular reviews to a minimum, if an editor is an author on a 

review another editor will be assigned to edit and help sign off that review. Please note that in order to have a 

position on the by-line of a review, an author should make a substantive intellectual contribution and take 

responsibility for at least one component of the work, be able to identify who is responsible for each other 

Cochrane Airways Group | ewelsh@sgul.ac.uk | www.airways.cochrane.org | Tel: +44 (0) 20 8725 270 

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component, and should ideally be confident in their co-authors’ ability and integrity (please see 

http://www.icmje.org/ethical_1author.html). 

Membership will be for a three year term, with the option of renewal. Editors’ contributions are acknowledged in 

the citation for the CAG module as published in the Cochrane Library. Editor’s input should be acknowledged within 

the relevant reviews. 

TIME AND COMMITMENT EXPECTATIONS 

We expect editors to: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit approximately three protocols and three reviews or updates per year 

Provide high quality feedback on the content of reviews (see ‘What does editing reviews involve’ below) 

Complete tasks within the specified/agreed timelines or let the Managing Editor know when you are unable 

to do so (e.g. provide feedback within two to three weeks unless otherwise arranged with the Managing 

Editor) 

Undertake to use RevMan for the preparation of reviews and Archie, the Collaboration’s Information 

Management System, for uploading comments and accessing tasks 

Write a Cochrane Review with the CAG if they have not already done so 

Recruit authors and contributors to the group and nurture their systematic reviewing skills – ideally by 

supervising them in the production of reviews 

Approve protocols and reviews before submission to peer review or publication if the CoEd needs assistance 

Act as a third party when there is disagreement between co-reviewers or between reviewers and referees 

Suggest suitable peer reviewers (referees) for assigned reviews to the Managing Editor 

Attend editorial meetings, which are usually held in conjunction with a major meeting (e.g. Cochrane 

Colloquium, TSANZ, ERS) where possible 

Attend Cochrane Colloquia (occasionally!) and annual Cochrane regional meetings where they exist 

Develop and keep up-to-date skills in review methodology 

Be responsible for keeping up to date with the latest changes to the Cochrane Collaboration – this is 

supported by the CAG team, including phone/email support, newsletter. We recommend editors sign up to 

receive CCinfo 

Give occasional advice to the contact author of assigned reviews as required (note that the Managing Editor 

is the first point of contact but may direct the reviewer to the Editor for help with specific clinical questions) 

Contribute to dissemination of reviews and promotion of the CAG 

Respect confidentiality of unpublished protocols and reviews 

Complete a Conflict of Interest form on an annual basis 


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SKILLS REQUIRED 

 

 

 

 

 

Content knowledge and clinical experience of one or more of the key topic areas within the scope of the CAG 

General understanding of systematic review methodology, in particular of the Cochrane Handbook, or be 

willing to learn 

Skill and experience in assessing studies of healthcare interventions 

Ability to edit scientific material for publication 

Be able to communicate effectively with review authors who may be based anywhere in the world and 

whose first language may not be English e.g. to facilitate the inclusion of peer review comments and 

criticisms if necessary 

BENEFITS 

Service as an editor provides an opportunity to: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contribute to the dissemination of medical literature in our field 

Develop/learn more about the methodology of systematic reviews 

Explore opportunities to get more involved with the Cochrane Collaboration 

Meet other members of the editorial board, consult on matters related to the scope of the CAG 

Each year the CAG has one free registration to the Cochrane Colloquium and editors, along with authors 

from developing countries are eligible to apply for it 

Occasional training is available for Editors through their local Cochrane Centre: 

www.cochrane.org/contact/entities.htm#CENTRES 

Opportunities to collaborate on other projects that the CAG undertakes 

SUPPORT: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials are available on Cochrane websites (www.cochrane.org; http://training.cochrane.org/; 

www.airways.cochrane.org/) 

Workshops are provided by Cochrane Centres and groups around the world 

(http://www.cochrane.org/training) 

Online training (http://training.cochrane.org/) 

Limited number of free subscriptions to The Cochrane Library are available upon request for those who do 

not have free access through country/organisational licenses 

Pertinent updates are communicated via email/newsletter 

Managing Editor, Co-ordinating Editor are available by phone/email as needed 


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WHAT DOES EDITING REVIEWS INVOLVE 

As a content editor we expect you to focus your comments on the content of the protocol or review that is subject 

specific. This includes: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does the background provide clear, accurate and logical information to justify this review, and is the 

question relevant 

The criteria for study inclusion, e.g. is the choice of participants clinically meaningful, are the outcomes 

important 

Can the objectives, inclusion criteria and methods be improved or refined 

Are any pre-specified subgroup analyses, supported by a clinically driven hypothesis and is this appropriate 

and relevant 

Is the description of studies, quality assessment and results readable and informative Can you suggest ways 

that it might be improved 

Results: are you aware of any missing studies, are the studies written up appropriately and accurately 

Discussion: is the summary an accurate reflection of the findings; is the discussion balanced and useful 

Have the authors mentioned all relevant similar studies with which the review might be compared for 

consistency 

Conclusions: are the conclusions consistent with the findings; are the implications for practice/research 

appropriate 

Can you suggest areas in need of attention 

However - do not get embroiled in the minutiae of spelling and grammar etc., the manuscript will be copy 

edited prior to publication 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT COCHRANE 

Archie 

Archie is The Cochrane Collaboration's online information management system, where published and draft versions 

of all Cochrane Reviews are stored along with contact details of contributors to The Cochrane Collaboration. Archie 

can be accessed at www.archie.cochrane.org. The Managing Editor will set you up an Archie account when you join; 

you will receive an email titled 'Registration' from Archie, with instructions on how to proceed. Please activate your 

account within two weeks, otherwise it will expire and you will need to ask me to initiate the process again. This is 

necessary to allow you to work on and edit reviews as well as sign them off for publication. 

Review Manager: 

RevMan is the special Collaboration computer software used for preparing Cochrane Reviews. The latest version 

(RevMan 5.1) can be freely downloaded from www.ims.cochrane.org/revman. Author teams must use RevMan to 

develop protocols and reviews and editors should use them to check out and comment on reviews. When you install 

RevMan you need to enter your Archie username and password (see attached Top Tips Guide). A tutorial for new 

users on how to use RevMan is available from the RevMan Help file. I strongly recommend that you work through 

this tutorial before beginning work on your protocol. A complete RevMan User Guide is also available from the 

RevMan Help file. 

When you wish to work on a protocol or review, open RevMan and a box will appear asking you what would like to 

do. Select 'Check out a review from the Central Server (Archie)'. By selecting this option the review file will be locked 

for editing by you only; other people are prevented from checking out the review file for editing in RevMan. Once 

you have completed your edits for the day select 'file', and 'check in' from the dropdown menu. Your draft will then 

be checked back into Archie. The important thing to note about Archie is that it stores each version that you check in 

and so you will always be able to go back to older versions should you encounter a problem. Used correctly, it means 

you will never have to send the file containing your review to your co-authors via email and so version control is 

maintained. 


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The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 

The Cochrane Handbook is the official document that describes the process of preparing and maintaining Cochrane 

Reviews, and you should refer to it at all stages of the review process. The Cochrane Handbook is available: 

 

 

 

 

Online: www.cochrane.org/training/cochrane-handbook (free access) 

In Archie: access under the 'Resources' tab, 'Handbook Editorial Advisory Panel', 'Files', 'Cochrane Handbook 

for Systematic Reviews of Interventions' (free access). Chapters of the Handbook are available here as 

individual PDFs. 

In Review Manager: access from the Help file (free access). 

Hardback book: available to purchase through Wiley (http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd- 

0470699515.html; note that the book does not contain the most recent updates available in the electronic 

versions). 

Training 

Cochrane Centres organise and run training workshops for authors in their region. Unfortunately, training for editors 

is limited, but you may attend training for authors, the Cochrane Colloquium, online learning opportunities and have 

support from the Managing Editor and Coordinating Editor on-the-job. For details of your reference (regional) 

Cochrane Centre, see www.cochrane.org/contact/country. Details of upcoming workshops can be found at 

www.cochrane.org/training. There are several online training modules that can be found here 

http://training.cochrane.org. Anyone with an Archie account can use them. 

Other useful information and resources 

We will supply you with additional resources that you may find helpful on joining our editorial board. 

EDITORIAL PROCESS OF THE CAG 

Registering a new title: Submission of a title registration form to the CAG editorial base, and the approval of the title by the 

editorial board. 

Protocol development: Once a title is registered, the review protocol (eligibility criteria and methods) will be developed by the 

authors and when the authors are agreed on the first draft, it should be submitted for editorial approval using RevMan. It will 

then be edited by the Managing Editor, Trials Search Coordinator, Contact Editor and Coordinating Editor. The document will be 

checked using plagiarism software. At each stage the protocol may be returned for amendments to the contact person. This 

process constitutes the internal review stage and this is complete when the protocol is signed off for peer review by the 

Coordinating Editor. The Managing Editor will then arrange peer review and forward peer review comments to the contact 

person. Once comments from peers have been satisfactorily addressed, the protocol will be copyedited and marked for 

publication on the Cochrane Library and authors will be responsible for signing off electronic licence for publication forms. These 

must be filled by all authors before the review can be published. All authors must have an Archie account and not signing off the 

protocol by the deadline can cause severe delays in publication. Publication of Cochrane protocols and reviews on The Library is 

monthly and the Managing Editor will advise on expected timelines where possible and if requested. 

Review development: Electronic literature searches for studies relevant to the review will be run by the TSC and provided to the 

contact person. Then it is over to the authors to draft the review and submit it for editorial approval. The Managing Editor is able 

to provide support to review authors and should be contacted when you have questions or reach a barrier to completing your 

review. 

Once the author team has agreed on a draft of the review, please submit it for editorial approval. The review will then be edited 

by the Managing Editor, Trials Search Coordinator, Contact Editor and Coordinating Editor. The document will be checked using 

plagiarism software. At each stage the review may be returned for amendments to the contact person. This process constitutes 

the internal review stage and this is complete when the protocol is signed off for peer review by the Coordinating Editor. The 

Managing Editor will then arrange peer review and forward peer review comments to the contact person. Once comments from 

peers have been satisfactorily addressed, the review copyedited and marked for publication on the Cochrane Library and 


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authors will be responsible for signing off electronic licence for publication forms. These must be filed by all authors before the 

review can be published. Not signing off the review by the deadline can cause severe delays in publication. 

Review updates: For updates of the review, the process is similar to the review development stage outlined above. However, 

we encourage authors to involve us in discussing possible changes to the scope of their review (such as amending eligibility 

criteria, search methods, and analysis) prior to the re-running of search strategies and revision of the review. Where methods 

have changed, we request that authors complete an update registration form to ensure transparency in review methods and try 

to reduce bias. When new review teams take over reviews, we expect them to complete an update registration form so that any 

new methods or changed to protocol are recorded. This will be consulted before final publication of the update to ensure 

transparency. Occasionally a new protocol may be required, particularly where new authors are involved in updating the 

review. 

COCHRANE AIRWAYS GROUP KNOWLEDGE SURVEY 

Please use this form to indicate your areas of interest in the scope of the Cochrane Airways Group. Please put a yes against 

topics of interest to you in the Y/N column and indicate whether this applies to adults or children, or both. If you have any 

additional areas of expertise please indicate at the end of the form. The numbers in parenthesis indicate the number of reviews 

in each topic (as of June 2011). If you want to find out what reviews we have in each topic see www.airways.cochrane.org/ourreviews. 

ADULTS/ 

CHILDREN/ 

TOPIC 

Y/N 

BOTH 

COMMENTS 

Chronic asthma - pharmacotherapy (80) 

Beta-agonists, long-acting (11) 

Beta-agonists, short-acting (4) 

Phosphodiesterases (1) 

Steroids, inhaled (17) 

Steroids, oral (1) 

Steroids, intranasal (1) 

Combination and additive therapies (13) 

Antibiotics (1) 

Antihistamines (1) 

Antibodies and immunotherapy (2) 

Anticholinergics (2) 

Cardioselective beta-blockers (1) 

Cromones (3) 

Gastro-oesophogeal reflux treatment (1) 

Histamine antagonists (1) 


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Inhaler devices and delivery of therapy (3) 

Leukotriene antagonists (3) 

Steroid sparing agents (10) 

Vaccines (2) 

Xanthines (2) 

Chronic asthma - non-pharmacotherapy (41) 

Complementary therapies (5) 

Delivery of care (1) 

Diet therapy and nutrition support (9) 

Disease management and monitoring (8) 

Education (9) 

Invasive therapeutic procedures (0) 

Psychotherapy (4) 

Physical therapy (5) 

Acute asthma - pharmacological interventions (30) 



Epinephrine (0) 


Beta-agonists (9) 

Inhaler devices and delivery therapy (5) 

Magnesium sulfate (2) 


Steroids, oral and systemic (4) 

Xanthines (2) 

Acute asthma - non-pharmacological interventions (3) 

Ventilation (1) 

Education (2) 

Chronic Cough (11) 



Antihistamines (1) 


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Cromones (1) 


Environmental remediation and allergen reduction (1) 

Gastro-oesophageal reflux treatment (1) 


Steroids (1) 

Topical treatment (1) 

Xanthines (1) 

Subacute cough (1) 

Exercise induced-bronchoconstriction (5) 

Stable COPD - pharmacotherapy (35) 


Beta-agonists, long-acting (5) 

Beta-agonists, short-acting (2) 


Steroids, oral (1) 

Combination and additive therapies (9) 

Cardioselective beta-blockers (1) 

Mucolytic agents (1) 

Phosphodiesterases (1) 


Vaccines (2) 

Delivery of inhaled therapy (1) 

Xanthines (1) 

Stable COPD - non-pharmacotherapy (22) 


Diet therapy and nutritional support (1) 

Education and disease management (3) 

Oxygen therapy and ventilation (5) 

Physical therapy (10) 


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Psychotherapy (0) 

Smoking cessation (1) 

Surgery (1) 

Exacerbations of COPD (15) 



Education and disease management (1) 

Steroids (2) 

Pulmonary rehabilitation (1) 

Oxygen therapy and ventilation (3) 


Other (3) 

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (1) 

Aspiration lung disease (1) 

Breathing dysregulation/hyperventilation syndrome (1) 

Bronchiectasis (20) 

Diagnostic test accuracy (1) 

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (2) 

Interstitial lung disease (3) 

Pleural diseases (1) 

Post-extubation stridor (1) 

Primary tracheomalacia (1) 

Sarcoidosis (2) 

Sleep apnoea (10) 

Continuous positive airways pressure (4) 

Oral appliance therapy (1) 

Drug treatment (2) 

Lifestyle modification (1) 

Surgery (2) 

Oxygen (0) 

Pulmonary hypertension (3) 

Wheeze (4) 


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CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION 

The Cochrane Steering Group recommends that Review Group members of influence (editorial board and editorial base staff) 

should declare financial support for their research interests, clinical practice (if relevant), stocks, legal advice, consultancies, 

involvement in primary research in the subject area of their review group, and any other ‘competing interests’ that they judge 

relevant. A conflict of interest exists when a secondary interest (e.g. personal financial gain) can influence, or have the 

appearance of influencing, judgements regarding the primary interest. Disclosing a conflict of interest is not meant to 

discourage involvement in outside activities, or receipt of support for an individual’s scientific work from commercial sources. 

Disclosure is designed to maintain the scientific and professional integrity of the Cochrane Airways Group. Each member of the 

Editorial and Advisory Board and all scientific/professional personnel working with the editorial office must complete and sign 

this form each year. 

A summary of this information will be published in the Cochrane Airways Group module in The Cochrane Library and posted on 

the Cochrane Airways Group website. 

A. Financial interests 

In the last five years, have you: 

1. Received research funding: any grant, contract or gift, commissioned research, or fellowship from a related organisation to 

conduct research If yes, list. 

2. Had paid consultancies: any paid work, consulting fees (in cash or kind) for an organisation related to the scope of the airways 

group If yes, list. 

3. Received honoraria: one-time payments (in cash or kind) from a related organisation related to the scope of the airways 

group If yes, list. 

4. Do you hold or have you applied for a patent on a treatment for any form of airways treatment 

4. Served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or held a position of management with an organisation related to the 

scope of the airways group If yes, list. 

5. Possessed share-holdings, stock, stock options, equity with a related organisation related to the scope of the airways group 

(excludes mutual funds or similar arrangements where the individual has no control over the selection of the shares) If yes, list. 

6. Received personal gifts from an organisation related to the scope of the airways group If yes, list. 

7. Had an outstanding loan with an organisation related to the scope of the airways group If yes, list. 

8. Received royalty payments from a related organisation If yes, list. 

B. Non-financial interests 

Do you have any other competing interests that could pose a conflict of interest that might reasonably appear to be related to 

the scope of the airways group If yes, explain. 

DEFINITIONS OF ROLES WITHIN THE CAG 

Coordinating Editor, Chris Cates 

Chris has the primary responsibility for ensuring that the CRG is productive and efficient, and operates according to 

the principles of The Cochrane Collaboration. 

Managing Editor, Emma Welsh 


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Emma manages and supports the CRG on a day-to-day basis; both helping authors and editors complete their 

review, managing the editorial process (including peer review) and submitting reviews for inclusion in the Cochrane 

Database of Systematic Reviews. Emma works full time and also co-ordinates the activities of the CRG; fosters liaison 

and communication between editors and reviewers; produces newsletters; provides reviewers with the relevant 

software (RevMan), manuals and support to do their reviews. 

Trials Search Coordinator, Liz Stovold 

Liz coordinates trial identification by handsearching and electronic means and makes reports of trials they identify 

accessible through the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). Liz maintains a specialised register 

of studies falling within the scope of the CAG and submits this to CENTRAL. Liz also provides listings of studies to 

Cochrane reviewers/authors to conduct and update their reviews. 

Editorial Assistant, Emma Jackson 

Emma assists with admin and general support of the editorial base. Emma is able to assist review teams with 

retrieving manuscripts of included studies if agreed in advance 

Editor 

A member of the CRG’s editorial team, often not located at the editorial base, who not only prepares and maintains 

one or more Cochrane Reviews as an author of a CRG, but also has responsibilities to support the Co-ordinating 

Editor in editing Cochrane Reviews prepared by others, and in fostering the smooth running of the CRG. The editor 

may be called upon to sign off reviews and protocols that they have edited if the Coordinating Editor is unable to do 

so. 


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COCHRANE AIRWAYS GROUP - The Cochrane Collaboration

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