Looking for systematic reviews? Go straight to the Cochrane Library

What is it?

The Cochrane Library publishes analysis and reviews of research studies looking at the same problems, in order to combine the research to develop a consensus view. Reviewers perform a detailed systematic search of the literature to identify good quality studies to investigate and draw valid conclusions from. Their conclusions are published as a systematic review of the particular medical problem.

Systematic Reviews will give you an overview of the literature and current research on a topic.

How to Access…

Who is it for?

The Cochrane Library is freely available on the Internet within the UK, accessible to everyone.

Log in

No login is required.

Key Features

Databases

The Cochrane Library includes the following databases:

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews – full-text of reviews and protocols prepared by the Cochrane review Groups.
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials – reports and bibliographic data of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials.
Cochrane Clinical Answers – easy-to-read short answers to clinical problems, to support clinical decision-making, based on systematic reviews.

Browse

You can browse through the available systematic reviews either by healthcare topic or by content produced by each Cochrane Review Group.

Search

You can use the simple search box to enter your search terms. Your results will be presented with a tab for each different type of content. You can use filter options to focus your search.

Presentation of example Search Results

Advanced Search

You can use the Advanced Search options to create a search strategy within the Search Manager. This allows you to develop individual search rows, use the thesaurus and combine searches.

Evidently Cochrane – the Cochrane Library Blog

Evidently Cochrane is a blog published by the Cochrane Library. Here you can find discussions about the latest systematic reviews on a range of healthcare topics. Topics are divided into categories, which also include Evidence for Everyday Midwifery and Evidence for Everyday Nursing. The blog is freely available online.

More Help

You can find more help on the using the Cochrane Library in the Online Guides and Support section of our website.

You might like to try our sway presentation Searching Cochrane Library for Systematic Reviews which includes videos.

Comments

Hot Topic! Prostate Cancer

There has been some recent discussion around prostate cancer screening and whether it should be extended to a wider proportion of the populate, but… What do you know about prostate cancer? Check these resources for an overview, key points, diagnosis, treatment options, follow-up and more. [You will need your NHS OpenAthens username to access these resources] BMJ Best Practice – Prostate Cancer Clinical Key (available to UHNM only) – Prostate Cancer, Screening and Prevention Clinical Knowledge Summaries – Prostate Cancer Cochrane Library systematic reviews – How does dose‐escalated radiotherapy compare with conventional dose radiotherapy for men with localized prostate cancer? Oxford Medicine Online – Chapter 9 Prostate Cancer in Oxford Handbook of Urology Case 8 Localized Prostate Cancer in Challenging Cases in Urological Surgery Chapter 5 The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) in 50 studies every doctor should know: the...

Hot Topic! Sepsis

Something that is always in the news - sepsis. What do you know about sepsis? Check these resources for an overview, key points, diagnosis, treatment options, follow-up and more. [You will need your NHS OpenAthens username to access these resources] Spotting the signs of sepsis from the Patient Safety Learning Hub A series of short videos to raise awareness of the signs of sepsis in different age groups. Produced by Patient Safety Learning, in collaboration with The UK Sepsis Trust, these provide a quick and simple resource for patients, carers and clinicians. BMJ Best Practice Sepsis in Children Sepsis in Adults Clinical Key (available to UHNM only) Sepsis Sepsis in Neonates Clinical Knowledge Summaries – Sepsis Cochrane Library systematic reviews – Corticosteroids for treating sepsis in children and adults Oxford Medicine Online Chapter 10 Sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction in Critical Care Nursing: science and practice Chapter 9 Postnatal care in Oxford Handbook of ...

Hot Topic! Cervical Cancer

Period blood test could offer less invasive alternative to cervical screening reported the BBC in February. This interesting and less invasive test is still undergoing research. What do you know about cervical cancer? Check these resources for an overview, key points, diagnosis, treatment options, follow-up and more. [You will need your NHS OpenAthens username to access these resources] BMJ Best Practice – Cervical cancer - Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment | BMJ Best Practice ; Cervical cancer screening - Medical information | BMJ Best Practice Clinical Key (available to UHNM only) – Cervical Cancer - ClinicalKey ; Cervical Cancer, Survivorship - ClinicalKey Clinical Knowledge Summaries – Cervical screening | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE Cochrane Library systematic reviews – Effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes on community rates of HPV‐related disease and harms from vaccination - Henschke, N - 2025 | Cochrane Library Patient Inf...

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