Coming soon - a report on our discussion at the Paris mid-year meeting on the topic of methodological and logistical issues in comparing multiple interventions in Cochrane overviews or intervention reviews.  See this page for background materials circulated before the meeting.

The Comparing Multiple Interventions Group focuses on methodology for comparing multiple interventions in the context of both Cochrane systematic reviews on the effects of intervention and on Cochrane Overviews of reviews. We consider how to best meet the needs of a healthcare decision-maker approaching The Cochrane Library asking “which intervention should I use for this condition?”

Cochrane Overviews were developed by the Collaboration's ‘Umbrella Reviews Working Group’, and aim to summarize the findings of multiple standard Cochrane reviews, for example when different reviews address different interventions for a single clinical condition. A key aim of the Methods Group is to consider how the aims, methods and processes for Overviews might evolve over time.

The Methods Group also brings together expertise in multiple treatments meta-analysis (also known as network meta-analysis, and mixed treatment comparisons meta-analysis). We are exploring issues around the validity, breadth, structure and interpretation of these methods in standard intervention reviews as well as their potential role in Overviews.

Relevant chapters from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions:

 Chapter 16.6: Indirect comparisons and multiple-treatments meta-analysis

Chapter 22:  Overviews of reviews

Additional issues for comparisons of multiple interventions in Cochrane reviews or overviews

These were addressed in a CMIMG meeting held in Milan in March 2011.  The report of the meeting click is available in html or PDF format. 

Please visit our CMIMG Forum to read or contribute to additional discussions of these issues.