Cochrane recently participated in the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), the world’s foremost global health policy event. Wrapping up this year, we're reflecting on a week of historic milestones and inspiring dialogue in a time where evidence and collaboration matter more than ever.

Held at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, the Health Assembly is the decision-making body for the World Health Organization (WHO), attended by representatives of all Member States, as well as NGOs and funding organizations. It is a key forum to advocate for evidence-informed health policies.

A historic resolution for evidence-based decision-making

This World Health Assembly marked the historic adoption of the resolution on strengthening national capacities in evidence-based decision-making for the uptake and impact of norms and standards. The resolution calls for the recognition of the value of high-quality synthesized evidence and the importance of supporting local priorities and foster strong leadership that’s based on science, evidence, and is human-centred. 

To support the adoption of the resolution, Karla Soares-Weiser, Cochrane’s Acting CEO, was invited to speak at a high-level panel discussion hosted by Ethiopia, China, Norway, the Wellcome Trust and the Gates Foundation. 

The event began with opening remarks from Director-General, WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Chief Scientist, WHO, Sir Jeremy Farrar, as well as Norway’s State Secretary for Health and diplomats from China and Ethiopia. This was followed by a panel discussion on what is needed to turn global evidence into local action for real-world impact.

Through our official relations status with WHO, we were given the privilege of making a statement at the Health Assembly in front of an audience of Member States and policymakers from across the world. We highlighted the importance of the resolution and affirmed our commitment to supporting colleagues at WHO, Member States, and stakeholders in the implementation of the resolution.

Engagement with our partners

To commemorate the occasion, Cochrane partnered with Devex to co-host the Devex Nightcap, and annual event where funders, implementers and journalists are invited to share a drink and discuss what is happening behind the scenes and what their priorities are. We used this opportunity to demonstrate Cochrane’s leadership in Global Health and had many informal conversations with key figures including Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director-General, WHO. 

As part of Cochrane Rehabilitation’s involvement with the World Rehabilitation Alliance — a WHO global network of stakeholders whose mission is to support the implementation of the Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative through advocacy activities —  we engaged in multiple activities to demonstrate the role of rehabilitation as an essential health service that is integral to Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. This included participating in a high-level side event hosted by the World Rehabilitation Alliance and Humanity and Inclusion and making a statement on the importance of including rehabilitation in non-communicable disease frameworks in front of Member States and policymakers. 

A new WHO action plan on climate change and health was also approved during the Health Assembly, marking an important step forward in global health and climate policy. The draft Global action plan 2025–2028 acknowledged the urgent need to address the health impacts of climate change, positioning health systems as part of the climate solution. Cochrane Planetary Health provided vital input drafting Cochrane’s statement on the importance of creating innovative methods for climate and health research, as well as and implementing evidence-based approaches. 

Get involved

If you would like to find out more about the resolution on evidence-based decision-making and how you can get involved, please get in touch with Mariam Salman, Advocacy Lead (msalman@cochrane.org). If you would like to find out more about our partnership with Devex during the World Health Assembly, please get in touch with Claudia Llado, Business Development Lead (cllado@cochrane.org). 

Monday, June 2, 2025

Title: Digital Marketing Officer
Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary: £38,000 per annum
Location: (Remote) resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Development and External Relations Directorate
Closing date: 16 May, 2025

The Digital Marketing Officer is an exciting new role that reflects the strategic importance of digital marketing to Cochrane, an internationally renowned charity providing high-quality health evidence.

You will support the organization’s digital marketing function, reporting to the Digital Marketing Manager. Together you will deliver high-quality, targeted digital marketing campaigns that inspire engagement and support from a range of audiences.

This role will support both brand marketing for diverse audiences and B2B/B2C marketing aimed primarily at universities and academics. Brand marketing will involve contributing to Cochrane’s social media accounts and email marketing, working closely with colleagues who manage the CRM (SugarCRM). Commercial marketing will include promoting academic conferences, on-demand training courses, and specialist software (SaaS).

Joining our team means becoming part of a mission to enhance global health through reliable, evidence-based practices. You'll collaborate with dedicated professionals and partners worldwide to ensure health decisions are informed by the best available data. Our core values — collaboration, relevance, integrity, and quality — guide all our actions. By joining us, you'll contribute to making a significant impact on health outcomes globally.

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 16 May, 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held on w/c 26 May 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

 

Friday, May 9, 2025 Category: Jobs

缓释（长效）纳曲酮对治疗阿片类药物依赖（成瘾）有哪些益处和风险？ 关键信息 • 目前尚不清楚接受缓释纳曲酮治疗的患者使用海洛因等非法阿片类药物的频率是否低于接受丁丙诺啡或美沙酮等阿片类激动剂治疗的患者。 • 接受缓释纳曲酮治疗的患者使用非法阿片类药物的频率可能低于接受口服纳曲酮、安慰剂或常规治疗的患者。 • 缓释纳曲酮治疗的安全性可能低于阿片类激动剂治疗，但比常规治疗更安全。 • 临床医生和患者应权衡治疗方案的可用性和特点，并注意到缓释纳曲酮有助于戒毒而不限制自由，但需要排毒；需要更多关于长期安全性和保留的证据。 什么是阿片类药物依赖？ 阿片类药物，包括海洛因和羟可酮等处方止痛药，具有成瘾风险和严重的健康后果。治疗通常涉及用更安全的替代品（例如美沙酮或丁丙诺啡）替代这些阿片类药物，尽管也有其他选择，例如治疗或纳曲酮。然而，由于阿片类药物依赖的复杂性以及相关的复发和过量风险，克服阿片类药物依赖仍然是一个持续的挑战。 我们想知道什么？ 在本综述中，我们想要对比缓释纳曲酮治疗与其他治疗或不治疗对阿片类药物依赖的效果。纳曲酮不应与纳洛酮混淆，纳洛酮是一种用于逆转阿片类药物过量作用的短效药物。其他治疗方法纳入阿片类激动剂治疗（如美沙酮或丁丙诺啡）、口服纳曲酮（口服片剂）、安慰剂（假治疗，不含任何药物，但外观或味道与所测试的药物相同）、常规治疗和心理社会治疗（针对精神健康状况的心理和社会方面...

Title: Internal Communications Officer
Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary:  £36,000 per annum 
Location: Remote - Resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Development and External Relations Directorate
Closing date: 16 May 2025

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesizing research findings and our work has been recognized as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane is now recruiting for a full time Internal Communications Officer. The successful applicant will play an important role in keeping our staff informed, connected and engaged. The Internal Communications Officer will create content and manage channels to communicate with staff, while developing and trialing new ways of doing so. 

The Internal Communications Officer will make sure that everyone at Cochrane knows what's going on, feels part of a bigger team and understands how their work fits into Cochrane’s strategic goals. By coming up with clear plans for sharing information, they will also help staff feel motivated and included in our positive and collaborative global team.  

The successful applicant will also spend time listening to colleagues, looking at ways to improve our staff communications and working with different departments to make sure their messages are clear and easy to understand. 

The overall goal of this role is to help Cochrane stay connected as an organization where people feel valued and informed. 

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values: Collaboration: Underpins everting we do, locally and globally. Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format. Integrity: Independent and transparent. Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigor and trust. 

You can expect: 

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally
• A flexible work environment
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here. 
• The deadline to receive your application is 16 May 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held w/c 26 May, 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Category: Jobs

Title: Head of Technology
Specifications: 6 months – Fixed term contract – Full time
Salary: £63,000 per annum (will be pro-rated for the 6-month contract)
Location: Remote (hybrid if based in Copenhagen) - Resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark
Directorate: Publishing and Technology Directorate
Closing date: 14 May 2025

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into four directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, and Finance and Corporate Services.

The Head of Technology will be overseeing systems architecture, software development, and IT operations for Cochrane. You will manage Cochrane’s systems administration and software development teams (9 persons), as well as outsourced development, and align their efforts to meet Cochrane’s operational needs and strategic goals. You will collaborate with teams across the organization and advocate for agile ways of working and sustainable IT solutions. You will bridge the gap between technical teams and executive leadership.

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values: Collaboration: Underpins everting we do, locally and globally. Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format. Integrity: Independent and transparent. Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust. 

You can expect: 

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally
• A flexible work environment
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 14 May 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held w/c 26 May, 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

Thursday, May 1, 2025 Category: Jobs

Title: Cochrane Support Officer
Specifications: Permanent – Part Time (0.6 FTE, 22.5 hours)
Salary:  £30,000 per annum (will be pro-rated)
Location: Remote - Ideally based in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Publishing and Technology Directorate
Closing date: 14 May 2025

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into four   directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, and Finance and Corporate Services.

The Cochrane Support team is the first point of contact for the international Cochrane community. We provide technical and user support to Cochrane editorial teams and review authors; and handle enquiries from members of the public about Cochrane’s work.

We pride ourselves on our timely and coordinated support service, covering a broad range of areas including Cochrane editorial processing and publication, review-writing software, Cochrane Account login, membership, training, and volunteering opportunities. The team is progressively taking on additional IT services tasks.     

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values: Collaboration: Underpins everting we do, locally and globally. Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format. Integrity: Independent and transparent. Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust. 

You can expect: 

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally
• A flexible work environment
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here
• The deadline to receive your application is 14 May 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held w/c 26 May, 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

Thursday, May 1, 2025 Category: Jobs

Title: Quality Assurance Editor
Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary: £35,000 - £43,000 per annum
Location: (Remote) Resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Evidence Production and Methods Directorate
Closing date: 6 May, 2025

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesizing research findings and our work has been recognized as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

As Quality Assurance Editor within Cochrane’s Editorial Department, you will assess whether protocols, reviews and updates submitted to Cochrane’s Central Editorial Service have met Cochrane’s methodological standards. You will recommend editorial decisions based on the quality of the methods in the articles submitted, provide feedback to authors on their articles, and support members of the Central Editorial Service with methods queries.  

The post holder will identify common methodological issues identified during methods assessments, and will recommend and support improvements to Cochrane’s guidance and training for authors and groups. 

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values: Collaboration: Underpins everting we do, locally and globally. Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format. Integrity: Independent and transparent. Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust. 

You can expect: 

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally
• A flexible work environment
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

Cochrane has offices with payroll in the UK, Germany and Denmark. 

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 6 May, 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held on 15 and 16 May, 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement.
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

Thursday, April 24, 2025 Category: Jobs

A newly-published Cochrane review reveals significant gaps in the clinical rating scales used to assess pain in newborn babies, highlighting the urgent need for improved tools and global collaboration.

Despite the critical importance of accurately measuring pain in newborns, the review found that none of the available scales are backed by the high-quality evidence and methodological safeguards required to confirm their validity and reliability in clinical practice.

Neonatal pain assessment and management presents a challenge for clinical staff worldwide. Over 40 rating scales have been developed and adapted worldwide assessing different parameters and various types of pain.

Six to nine percent of all newborns require admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to either illness of prematurity. These infants endure multiple painful procedures daily, which can lead to long-term negative effects. Due to this, valid tools to support the assessment of pain are of great importance.

Infant pain scales lack robust evidence

The Cochrane review analysed 79 studies involving over 7,000 infants across 26 countries, evaluating 27 different clinical rating scales. All rating scales were found to be supported by very low-quality evidence, indicating major limitations in their effectiveness and clinical applicability.

“Over 70% of rating scales in this review did not assess content and structural validity, and both these factors are essential when selecting a measurement instrument,” says Kenneth Färnqvist, physiotherapist and PhD candidate at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. “Without a strong foundation in these areas, other necessary measures, such as reliability, cannot be accurately evaluated. Future studies must prioritise rigorous validation to improve neonatal pain assessment.” 

Measuring pain in newborns is particularly complex compared to adults. Such limitations may lead to an over- or under-estimation of pain, resulting in unnecessary sedation or inadequately treated pain, potentially jeopardising infant safety through treatment side-effects, including withdrawal symptoms or prolonged discomfort. Premature infants further complicate matters, as they often have a reduced ability to display robust pain behaviour due to their immaturity. The same is also true for ill or sedated infants.

“It is important to remember that clinical rating scales are only surrogates for pain measurement,” says Roger F. Soll, Professor of Neonatology at the University of Vermont. “Given the uncertainty highlighted in this review, clinical staff should avoid relying too heavily on the rating scales currently in practice and instead strive to decrease painful procedures as much as possible in this vulnerable population.” 

Global collaboration needed to improve infant pain assessment

Despite the disappointing results, this review presents an opportunity for progress in neonatal pain assessment, particularly through global collaboration and innovation.

Emma Persad, doctor and PhD candidate at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health at the Karolinska Institutet, sees this as an opportunity for global collaboration and a call to action. 

“This is our chance to unite medical professionals and methodologists in developing a rigorously validated scale from scratch, one that meets all necessary checks before implementation in research and practice,” Emma says. “We look forward to beginning this impactful work and the implications it will have on assessing and managing neonatal pain worldwide.” 

Are you interested in getting involved or staying updated on the progress?

As per the findings of this 2025 review, Clinical rating scales for assessing pain in newborn infants, we would like to proactively respond to these findings by convening medical professionals and methodologists worldwide to work together to develop a more rigorous and evidence-based pain scale. 

If you're interested in getting involved, or staying up-to-date on the progress being made, please fill out the following form. For more information, contact Mia Parkinson.

• Read the Cochrane review and the plain language summary

 

Friday, April 11, 2025

Role: Business Analyst
Location: Remote working (resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark). 
Specifications: 6 months Fixed term contract.
Hours: Full-time week (flexible working considered) – 37.5 hours.
Salary: £42,000 per annum.
Application Closing Date: Wednesday 23rd April 2025 (Midnight GMT).

As a Business Analyst, you will gather, validate, and document business requirements using workshops, user research, use cases, and task and workflow analysis. You will ensure requirements are sufficiently detailed, reviewed, signed off, and kept up-to-date and are fully traceable. You will create and manage functional specifications, and contribute to identifying and validating appropriate solutions to support business objectives.

You will act as a key liaison between relevant stakeholders and departments, and product and software development teams to ensure feature implementation goals are met. 

You will be proactive, approachable, and curious. You will demonstrate an aptitude for user-centric, data-informed problem solving. As well as being a skillful communicator, you will be able to engage with technical and non-technical stakeholders across all levels. You will be driven to provide value and deliver demonstrable impact.

Cochrane is a global, independent network of health practitioners, researchers, patient advocates and others, responding to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesizing research findings to produce the best available evidence on what can work, what might harm and where more research is needed. Our work is recognized as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information. 

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 23 April, 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held on w/c 28 April 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits

 

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 Category: Jobs

Cochrane will no longer use the term ‘consumer’ to represent patients and the public, which we previously defined as ‘healthcare consumers’.  We have adopted the term ‘patient and public involvement’ to describe research being carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public, rather than ‘to’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ them. 

Represented groups include patients and potential patients, carers, people who use health and social care services, and people or organizations that represent these groups. 

Patient and public involvement helps to make our research ethical, relevant, and impactful. Insights from members of the public can shape meaningful research questions and produce useful findings. People living with a health condition are often in a better position to identify unanswered questions and determine what research would most likely improve their quality of life. 

Involving patients and members of the public also improves transparency, informed consent, ensures respectful and practical participation, and enhances communication by presenting information in accessible and useful formats. Ultimately, it helps research to better serve the needs of patients and the public. 

“Involving patients and members of the public has long been an important part of Cochrane’s work,” says Karla Soares-Weiser, Acting Chief Executive of Cochrane. “It ensures that our reviews are not only scientifically rigorous, but also meaningful and relevant to the people they aim to serve. We hope that this name change makes clear that anyone can contribute to Cochrane, and we welcome diverse experiences from patients and members of the public across the world.”  

Anyone who would like to get involved in Cochrane’s work can volunteer through our website or join the Patient and Public Network to receive monthly updates and opportunities to get involved. 

Jack Nunn, Co-Chair of the Cochrane Patient and Public Network Executive, said: 

"Cochrane started as a collaboration for everyone over 30 years ago. Language evolves, and choosing the right words is essential. Cochrane's change to using 'patient and public involvement' reflects a global shift and shows they have listened to the many voices from around the world who felt 'consumer' was no longer the right word. By saying 'patient and public involvement', more people are likely to understand the important and essential concepts behind those words — and the actions to which they point, which is involving everyone in shaping the future of evidence."

Cochrane acknowledges that many different terminologies are used across global health. We are committed to revisiting these terminologies regularly and collaboratively updating them as they evolve, ensuring that concepts not only translate across languages but also align with local contexts. 

Using language that better reflects the values of the people who support and use Cochrane evidence has the potential to improve inclusivity, foster a sense of belonging, build relationships, and strengthen trust with diverse communities including underrepresented groups.  

Our Patient and Public Involvement Manager, April English, will be updating Cochrane materials to reflect the new language over the coming months. 

• Join the Patient and Public Network here

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Monday 7 April marks World Health Day, a day organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) to highlight a particular global health issue. This year, it aims to kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health.

Maternal, newborn, and child health is a major global health priority, and yet in many parts of the world there are still far too many preventable deaths among mothers and young children. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that close to 300,000 women die during and following childbirth each year. Around 95% of those deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, in one of the starkest demonstrations of global health inequities. Postpartum haemorrhage alone accounts for over a quarter of maternal deaths each year, a number that emphasises the urgent need for evidence-based interventions.

Maternal, newborn, and child health: one of the four pillars

At Cochrane, our vision is a healthier world for everyone where health and care decisions are informed by high-quality evidence.

Cochrane has a long and proud history of advancing maternal, newborn, and child health. Much of our early work focused on evaluating evidence-based strategies to prevent illness and death among expectant mothers and babies, shaping international guidelines on labour induction and postnatal care. We have also contributed to landmark reviews, including one on the benefits of steroid injections for women at risk of preterm birth, research that even inspired the Cochrane logo.

With maternal, child and newborn health being one of the strategic pillars in our scientific strategy, we remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of mothers and children worldwide and tackling the vast health equity gap between different populations. We will assess strategies aimed at preventing illnesses and deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth, enhance prevention and treatment for diseases in babies and children, and help improve sexual health and fertility services.

What are we doing?

Cochrane has a strong track record in maternal, newborn, and child health, with over 220 reviews informing WHO recommendations in this area.

Last year we collaborated with the WHO on a suite of 14 rapid reviews to improve the prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. This work is part of WHO’s four-point plan to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030 (SDG 3.1). By fast-tracking evidence synthesis, Cochrane’s reviews will inform updated WHO guidelines, influencing maternal healthcare policies worldwide.

Beyond postpartum haemorrhage, Cochrane is evaluating interventions for maternal infections, pre-eclampsia prevention through calcium supplementation, diabetes management during pregnancy, and clinical management of caesarean sections. These areas are critical for improving maternal health outcomes, particularly in low-resource settings.

“High-quality evidence is essential for improving maternal and newborn health worldwide. Through Cochrane’s scientific strategy, we address critical global health needs and pressing research questions,” explains Roses Parker, Commissioning Editor at Cochrane. “We collaborate with decision-makers to ensure they have access to the best available evidence for policy and practice. Currently, we are focusing on a suite of reviews on diagnosing and managing gestational diabetes and partnering with Cochrane India to develop an evidence gap map to guide future work on neonatal mortality.” 

The need for evidence-based policy

The leading causes of maternal, neonatal, and child mortality are largely known, preventable, and treatable through strategic, population-based healthcare policies. Despite this, inequalities due to income, education, gender, race and/or ethnicity limit access to care, further marginalising these vulnerable populations. Recognising this disproportionate burden in LMICs, Cochrane is prioritising capacity building and evidence co-production in these regions.

Cochrane remains committed to working alongside the WHO, governments, and health systems to turn high-quality research into life-saving policies. Strengthening maternal, newborn, and child health systems through evidence-based interventions is critical to achieving global health goals and ensuring health for all.

• Read more about World Health Day 2025
• Find out more about our scientific strategy

 

Monday, April 7, 2025

手术前服用药物切除子宫内非癌性生长物（子宫肌瘤）有哪些益处和风险？ 关键信息 - 促性腺激素释放激素类似物 (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues, GnRHa) 是一种药物，可在手术治疗子宫肌瘤（子宫內的非癌性生长物）之前缩小子宫和肌瘤的大小，并增加血红蛋白（一种有助于红细胞中运输氧气的蛋白质）的水平。GnRHa 预处理也可以减少手术时间、输血需求以及手术期间或手术后可能发生的一些并发症。 - 手术前服用 GnRHa 的女性较容易出現潮热等不良副作用。 - 仍需要进一步研究。 什么是子宮肌瘤？ 子宮肌瘤是女性子宮內的平滑肌肿瘤（非癌性生长），会导致怀孕困难。它们会导致女性月经期间胃部疼痛和大量出血。子宮肌瘤可能使女性更容易流产。 如何治疗子宫肌瘤？ 子宫肌瘤通常通过手术治疗。有些药物，特別是促性腺激素释放激素类似物 (GnRHa)，可能会缩小子宫和肌瘤的大小，使手术更容易，也可能控制大量出血。但是，它们不能使用超过六个月，因为它们可能会导致骨质流失。其他药物，包括孕激素、多巴胺激动剂、选择性孕激素受体调节剂（selective progesterone receptor modulators, SPRMs）、雌激素受体拮抗剂和选择性雌激素受体调节剂（selective oestrogen receptor modulators, SE...

Title: Subscription Renewals Officer
Specifications: Permanent – Full time or Part Time (minimum 22.5 hours)
Salary: £35,000 per annum full time 
Location: (Remote) resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Development and External Relations Directorate
Closing date: 15 April, 2025

The Subscription Renewals Officer role will work closely with the Business Development Manager to grow the organisation’s commercial services income. As SRO, you will be responsible for supporting customer satisfaction and maximising customer lifetime value through successful contract renewals.

Joining our team means becoming part of a mission to enhance global health through reliable, evidence-based practices. You'll collaborate with dedicated professionals and partners worldwide to ensure health decisions are informed by the best available data. Our core values — collaboration, relevance, integrity, and quality — guide all our actions. By joining us, you'll contribute to making a significant impact on health outcomes globally.

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 15 April, 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held on w/c 28 April 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement.
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

 

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 Category: Jobs

超声与解剖标志引导对于经皮股总动脉介入有何影响？ 关键信息 • 与解剖标志引导相比，超声引导可提高首次尝试成功率并缩短成功进入股总动脉 (CFA) 的时间，同时降低静脉穿刺率（无意中进入静脉而不是目标动脉）和进入尝试次数。 需要进一步研究以提高证据的可信度。 这是什么病症？如何治疗？ 经皮（通过皮肤）股总动脉（Common Femoral Artery, CFA）介入是多种血管内手术（即通过微创方式处理动脉/静脉病变的操作）的关键步骤，其应用范围涵盖：诊断性动脉造影（通过影像技术评估动脉内部结构及潜在病变）；治疗性介入手术（用于治疗动脉疾病的干预措施），包括但不限于：支架置入术（植入小型装置以维持动脉通畅性）；栓塞术（人为形成血栓以阻断异常血管）；血栓切除术（清除血管内病理性血栓）。此类技术可有效诊断和治疗：闭塞性动脉疾病（动脉阻塞性病变）；动脉瘤（动脉壁局部膨出）；动脉夹层（动脉壁撕裂）；动静脉瘘（动脉与静脉异常连通）。传统入路引导方式：依赖解剖标志（如骨骼或体表标志）定位CFA。新兴技术：超声引导作为一种潜在风险更低、效果更优的替代方案逐渐普及，但现有研究对超声引导与解剖标志引导经皮CFA介入的优劣仍存争议。 我们想要了解什么？ 我们的目的是确定与经皮 CFA 介入的解剖标志引导相比，超声引导是否能提高 CFA 介入的成功率和速度、降低经皮 CFA 介入相关的并发症发生率、和...

口服减充血剂对血压有何影响？ 关键信息 -未发现每日服用口服减充血剂（缓解鼻塞的口服药物）一周或更长时间会改变血压、心率或导致人们因不良反应而停药。 -现有研究数量少且设计不完善。需更多高质量研究。 -鉴于口服减充血剂有时会连续数周或数月每天服用，并有可能导致血压升高，使用者应将这一潜在风险与本综述中的有限证据一并考虑。 什么是口服减充血剂？ 口服减充血剂是用于缓解鼻塞（由感冒、过敏或鼻窦感染引起）的药物。见成分包括伪麻黄碱或去氧肾上腺素。 口服减充血剂如何起效？ 此类药物通过收缩鼻道肿胀的血管。减轻充血，从而改善呼吸。 什么是高血压？ 高血压指静息血压持续≥140/90 mmHg。可增加卒中（脑部供血中断）和心脏病发作（心脏供血中断）风险。控制血压是降低此类疾病风险的关键。 如何治疗高血压？ 治疗包括生活方式调整和降压药物。本综述关注长期使用口服减充血剂的影响。尽管此类药物可缓解鼻塞，但可能升高血压。 我们想了解什么？ 我们旨在探究长期使用口服减充血剂（≥7天）是否升高血压并产生副作用。我们也评估了其缓解鼻塞的效果。这提供了对其益处和风险的重要见解，以指导知情使用。 我们做了什么？ 我们检索了比较口服减充血剂和安慰剂对血压影响的研究。安慰剂是一种不含活性成分的物质或治疗方法，用于医学研究中与真实药物的效果进行比较。然后，我们对研究结果进行了比较和总结，并根据研究设计和方法对证据...

非药物和非手术治疗对于非特异性腰痛可能有哪些益处和伤害？ 关键信息 治疗急性腰痛（疼痛持续时间少于6周） • 与建议卧床相比，保持活跃的建议可能会减轻疼痛并改善功能。 治疗亚急性腰痛（疼痛持续 6 至 12 周） • 与常规治疗相比，多学科治疗可能会减轻疼痛。 • 与安慰剂（「伪」或「虚拟」治疗，旨在模仿实际治疗，但缺乏有效成分或预期的治疗效果）相比，脊椎矫正可能不会改善功能。 治疗慢性腰痛（疼痛持续时间超过 12 周） • 与安慰剂、无治疗/常规护理相比，针灸可能减轻疼痛并改善功能。 • 与安慰剂、无治疗/常规护理相比，运动疗法可能减轻疼痛并改善功能。 • 与伪牵引相比，牵引可能不会减轻疼痛。 • 与常规治疗相比，多学科治疗可能更能减轻疼痛并改善功能。 • 心理疗法可能会减轻疼痛，但与常规治疗相比对功能没有影响。 什么是腰痛，如何去治疗? 腰痛是一种常见的健康狀況，可能导致残疾和生活质量降低。对于大多数腰痛病例，疼痛原因不明，被描述为「非特异性」腰痛。对于不同持续时间的腰痛患者，有多种非药物和非手术治疗方法：急性（疼痛持续时间小于 6 周）、亚急性 （疼痛持续时间为 6 至 12 周）和慢性（疼痛持续时间超过 12 周）。有必要向医疗专业人员以及患者提供有关非药物和非手术治疗的好处或益处和安全性的易于获取的高质量信息，以便更好地治疗腰痛。 我们想要了解什么？ 我们想要总结 Co...

GAD-7 和 GAD-2 问卷对于检测焦虑症的准确度有多高？ 关键信息 • 单独使用 GAD-7 和 GAD-2 问卷不能用于诊断或排除焦虑症。 • 然而，它们可以提示是否有焦虑症。 • 个人问卷调查结果「阴性」或「阳性」的解释取决于具体情況。 什么是焦虑症？ 「焦虑症」是一个总称，指的是心理健康狀況，包括（但不限于）： • 广泛性焦虑症：当某人在六个月内的大部分时间里感到过度焦虑，难以控制担忧，并且出现六种症状的至少三种：烦躁不安、疲劳、注意力不集中、易怒、肌肉紧张和睡眠障碍； • 社交恐惧症：非常害怕在社交或表演场合受到评判、尴尬或羞辱； • 恐慌症：反复经历意想不到的强烈恐惧或不适，可能伴随各种身体和情绪症状。 为什么早期诊断焦虑症很重要？ 焦虑症很常见，而且经常未被发现，即使对于需要治疗的人也是如此。当焦虑症出现时未能识别（假阴性) 意味着您错过了及时接受药物治疗、心理治疗或两者结合治疗的机会。因此，一些专家和患者倡议组织提倡进行筛检；即对一个社会群体或人口进行系統性检查，以确定是否存在焦虑症，即使是那些沒有因为相应症状寻求帮助的人。其他专家反对筛检，因为沒有证据提示这种筛检的益处大于弊端（例如误诊和不必要开药的副作用）。 GAD-7 和 GAD-2 问卷是什么？ GAD-7（广泛性焦虑症 7 題量表）和 GAD-2（GAD-7 量表的前两项）是专为外行人设计的使用者友...

How accurate are Truenat assays for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance?

On World TB Day, we highlight findings from a new review assessing the accuracy of Truenat assays for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and rifampicin resistance in adults and adolescents.

TB remains a global health threat, with 10.8 million cases and 1.25 million deaths in 2023, according to the World Health Organization. The number of people with tuberculosis keeps increasing. Both false-positive results and false-negative results have a severe impact on individuals tested. It is crucial that there is early and accurate diagnosis to prevent the spread of TB and ensure timely treatment. 

This review included six studies with over 4000 participants, comparing Truenat assays to the WHO-recommended Xpert Ultra test. While Truenat MTB Plus showed promise, further research is needed to refine diagnostic tools, particularly for drug-resistant TB.

Key findings:

• Truenat MTB Plus was more accurate than Truenat MTB for detecting TB. However, Truenat MTB misidentified many people as having TB when they did not, raising concerns. 
•  Xpert Ultra was found to be more accurate than Truenat MTB.
• Evidence on Truenat’s accuracy for detecting rifampicin resistance was limited.

Read the full review here: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD015543.pub2/full

Thursday, March 20, 2025

联合心理社会干预和药物治疗对重度饮酒者有什么效果？ 重要信息 • 相较于单纯的心理社会干预，联合药物治疗对于AUD患者可能更安全且有助于减少酒精使用量。 • 由于相关研究数量有限，我们无法确定联合心理社会干预与药物治疗，相较于单纯药物治疗、未接受治疗或常规照护，是否对AUD患者有帮助。 • 需要开展更多研究，对联合干预措施的效果与单独使用药物、不治疗或常规护理的效果进行比较。 什么是AUD？ AUD是一种精神疾病，表现为无法控制饮酒行为以及频繁出现饮酒控制受损的情况，这与车祸风险增加、过早死亡以及癌症、肝硬化和神经障碍等疾病的发生有关。 如何治疗AUD？ 心理社会干预和药物治疗有助于AUD患者减少酒精摄取。常用于治疗AUD患者的心理社会干预包括： • 认知行为疗法（旨在帮助人们识别并改变其消极想法和信念，改变不良行为，通过行为训练技巧来应对饮酒冲动）； • 奖励管理（通过金钱、优惠券或奖品奖励减少饮酒的患者）； • 激励对话（旨在增加患者减少饮酒的动机）； • 十二步促进法（采用匿名戒酒互助会的方法并鼓励参加匿名戒酒互助会的干预措施）。 在可用的药物中，以下已获得主要监管机构的批准： • 阿坎酸（推荐用于维持戒酒状态）； • 双硫仑（推荐用于维持戒酒状态）； • 纳曲酮（推荐用于达到并维持戒酒状态，以及减少酒精摄取）。 我们想要了解什么？ 我们想要了解联合药物与心理社会干预是否比...

肺栓塞（肺部血栓）成年患者的死亡风险是否存在性别差异？ 关键信息 -我们的结论是目前仍不确定性別（男性或女性）是否为影响PE（肺部血栓）死亡风险的独立预测因子，因为本综述的研究结果存在矛盾。 -我们发现，与男性相比，女性PE患者在30天内的全因死亡率可能略低，但仍具有重要性。然而，在女性患者中，住院期间的全因死亡率可能略高，但这样的差异具有重要意义。我们发现，PE发生后30天内，男女患者在因PE本身导致的死亡率上几乎没有差別。我们对结果持中等至低的信心。 - 需要再进行高质量的研究来理清男女性在PE后死亡的可能性是否存在差异。本系统评价对后续研究提出建议。 什么是PE？ 血栓是由血液细胞聚集而成的块状物。血栓具有止血作用，但也可能引发疾病。当血栓脱落迁移至肺部阻塞循环时即发生PE。 PE具有致命性。PE是心血管死亡的第三大原因（仅次于心梗与卒中），也是住院患者首要可预防死因。 我们想了解什么？ 本Cochrane系统评价旨在确定性别（女性或男性患者）本身能否预测PE成年患者死亡风险。 我们做了什么？ 我们检索了探讨性别与PE成人死亡率之间关联性（独立于其他因素）的相关研究。我们对比总结研究结果，并根据研究方法与规模等因素评估证据可信度。 我们发现了什么？ 我们发现了3项相关的研究，共纳入726,293名受试者。这些研究得出了三种文献回顾结局：因任何原因在医院死亡（全因住院死亡率）...