On July 8^th, a Cochrane call concluded, and Cochrane Rehabilitation presented a proposal to evolve from a Field to a Thematic Group, broadening our focus to functioning and disability. Cochrane will decide on this opportunity within three months. Below, you can find information on how Cochrane is changing, why this is relevant for our field, and why we decided to propose a Thematic Group.

Cochrane is reorganising

Cochrane is changing substantially (https://futurecochrane.org/). A clear distinction has been made between the editorial work (now central and independent – https://futurecochrane.org/npm-ces), and the evidence synthesis production. As a consequence, the Cochrane landscape evolved from the previous four group types (Review Groups, Method Groups, Geographic Groups and Fields) to include two new, much larger groups:

• Evidence Synthesis Units (https://futurecochrane.org/npm-esus): essentially composed of methodologists providing methodological knowledge for the high-priority Cochrane reviews
• Thematic Groups (https://futurecochrane.org/npm-thematic-groups): clinicians producing Cochrane reviews and providing the clinical knowledge to
  • Set up and maintain prioritisation plans
  • Provide editors and peer reviewers to the Central Editorial Service
  • Provide content expertise to support the Evidence Syntheses Units
  • Disseminate Cochrane evidence
  • Form strategic partnerships with other Cochrane Groups
  • Support and/or supplement volunteer Cochrane author teams, ensuring that authors use Cochrane’s standard and are aware of Cochrane’s policies
  • Thematic Group can also provide Knowledge Translation and methodological work.

Cochrane Rehabilitation

Cochrane Rehabilitation was launched on December 16th, 2016. Since then, much work has been done, particularly in knowledge translation, methodology, collaboration with stakeholders, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), production of Cochrane, and other systematic reviews and overviews of reviews.

In the current organisation, Cochrane Rehabilitation is a Field. Still, it already includes most of the actions required of a Thematic Group, such as prioritisation, providing peer reviewers and content expertise, disseminating Cochrane evidence, forming strategic partnerships, providing Knowledge Translation, and methodological work. Nevertheless, the current thematic groups are larger than our current field.

What’s new in the proposed Thematic Group

The remit

Each term of the name refers to a specific global need and activities. Functioning is highly relevant in all chronic conditions. It is considered so central in modern healthcare and health management to be considered a third health indicator (together with morbidity and mortality) – Cochrane needs a stronger introduction of functioning in its remit. Disability is a source of inequity and poverty, a challenge to all health systems requiring a specific approach in the acute establishment (rehabilitation) and the chronic management (rehabilitation, but also the specific management of comorbidities due to ageing or other diseases). In this enlarged remit, we will also include new topics previously not considered in Cochrane Rehabilitation, specifically sensory (visual and hearing) rehabilitation and mental health rehabilitation.

The organisation

We propose a model of “Units” controlled by a Board of Directors. The Units will be the basic components of the new Thematic Group. Each Unit will be linked to Cochrane, have a Director and at least two full-time equivalent researchers, and define its action plan and tasks in line with those of the Thematic Group. 

The network

The Thematic Group will exploit the Cochrane Rehabilitation experience and better define how to work with volunteers, including formal collaborations and projects and providing calls and education.

Proposed possible future organisation of Cochrane Rehabilitation eventually becoming a Thematic Group

Map of Cochrane Rehabilitation proposed Thematic Group