The Cochrane Library

Abstract

The Cochrane Collaboration is an international network of scientists, physicians and health-related professionals with the aim of preparing, maintaining and disseminating systematic reviews based on randomised, controlled trials. They are aiming at overcoming the problems of narrative reviews with the criticism of neither containing all relevant available information on the specific topic, methodological problems nor continuously including new results. The information tool of the Cochrane Collaboration is the Cochrane Library (CL). Why practice evidence based medicine? What are the characteristics of the Cochrane Collaboration? Which databases exist within the Cochrane Library? What prospects arise from this for the hospital pharmacy? Who is the father of the Cochrane Collaboration? How to access the Cochrane Library? How much does it cost? The following article wants to answer these questions.