ISEE principles for evidence synthesis and evaluation in environmental health

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Cochrane Collaboration is a global producer and publisher of high quality systematic reviews of clinical and public health research. Cochrane has pioneered principles and rigorous standards for systematic review which have evolved to encompass diverse types of evidence and research integrity practices. In addition to producing systematic reviews, Cochrane publishes a Handbook of systematic review methods, provides capacity building for systematic reviews and advocates for the use and understanding of systematic reviews. This presentation is a personal viewpoint, but is based on my experience with diverse types of evidence synthesis and Cochrane. I will discuss the relevance of Cochrane’s principles and standards for evidence synthesis in environmental health. Lisa Bero is an international leader in Research Integrity and meta-research. She is the Senior Editor, Research Integrity for the Cochrane Library where she is initiating Cochrane’s research program on research integrity. She is also Public Health and Health System Network Senior Editor and was Co-Chair of the Cochrane Governing Board 2014-18. She is Professor, Medicine and Public Health and Chief Scientist, Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center. METHODS: Not applicable RESULTS:Not applicable CONCLUSIONS:Not applicable KEYWORDS: exposure assessment, risk assessment, policy