Happy 2nd Birthday Cochrane Rehabilitation!

Every birthday is a moment for celebration and reflection. 
Today it is the second birthday of Cochrane Rehabilitation, so time to look at what we have achieved till now (see 2017 and 2018 reports). 

Our primary accomplishments, listed in no particular order, are: 
  • all committees in place and operational, 
  • a comprehensive and constantly updated website, 
  • continuously growing audience on social media, 
  • weekly blogshots in several languages, updating colleagues all over the world, 
  • all Cochrane evidence relevant to rehabilitation tagged and listed in our website, 
  • many partnerships defined and established all over the world, 
  • Cochrane Corners in several journals, 
  • methodology work continuously growing, 
  • several articles published in major journals, 
  • several presentations, workshops and educational events worldwide, 
  • involvement of all major rehabilitation stakeholders. 

We know there is much more to do. We feel as one does at the start of a good hike, when the top of the mountain is still far away. Nevertheless, projects are underway and others are beginning. 

We are particularly proud of:

  • Our collaboration with the Department for Blindness and Deafness Prevention, Disability and Rehabilitation of the World Health Organization (WHO) to produce the Package of Rehabilitation Interventions that WHO would like to release by 2020.
  • Our financed partnership with the European Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) bodies (ESPRM, EARM, UEMS-PRM) to publish an e-book with summaries of Cochrane Reviews for different audiences (clinicians, students, health managers/politicians, people with disabilities).
  • The prioritization of future Cochrane Reviews of rehabilitation interest, through the e-book and in collaboration with the International Society of PRM (ISPRM).
  • The 2nd Cochrane Rehabilitation Methodology Committee Meeting in June in Kobe, before the ISPRM World Congress.

We also are working on guidelines with checklists for RCTs in rehabilitation and to improve the handbook on Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR), covering the specific needs of rehabilitation.

Cochrane Rehabilitation is a great group of people. As Director, I feel very fortunate to lead such experienced, remarkable and hardworking colleagues. As our second year of challenging and gratifying work comes to a close, I want to thank our Executive Committee, in particular each committee and its work, Advisory Board, and all of our partners, with a special thanks to our financing partners IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi of Milan and University of Brescia, ISPRM and the European bodies. Last but not least I want to thank our Headquarters Team: Chiara Arienti, Roberta Bettinsoli and Joel Pollet, as well as new members Stefano Lazzarini and Michele Patrini, and Silvia Bergamini, who worked for us for a while.

We at Cochrane Rehabilitation wish you good health and success in 2019 and look forward to our continued work together, making a difference in the world of evidence in rehabilitation.

Wishing you a wonderful Holiday Season, a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year 2019.

The Director

Stefano Negrini