Strong and high-quality evidence synthesis needs Cochrane: a statement of support by the GRADE Guidance Group

Abstract

Cochrane is widely recognized for its pioneering efforts in promoting and producing high quality systematic reviews as the basis of evidence-based decision-making and advancing the underlying methods of evidence synthesis. The GRADE Working Group has developed the most widely used approach to rating the certainty of evidence, to ensure that users of the reviews understand how much trust to put in findings of research and to then use this evidence for decision-making.For decades, both organizations have been closely aligned through their mutual goal of providing trustworthy healthcare related information to allow individuals, guideline developers, and policy makers to make decisions grounded in evidence.Beyond the concepts of SoF table, the joint experience in rating the certainty of evidence and the application of GRADE in Cochrane reviews strengthened the reviews and GRADE’s conceptual developments, and, ultimately, becoming the internationally accepted approach for rating certainty of evidence.The work of the two groups is also aligned with the mission of the Journal of Clincial Epidemiology’s (JCE) promotion of the quality of clinical and patient-oriented health care research. These alignments are one of the reasons for submitting this commentary to the JCE in support of Cochrane.A strong Cochrane is not only in the interest of GRADE and the entire evidence-based healthcare community, but also of the future of trusted evidence, informed decisions, and a better health.