Adelaide features in Cochrane Library

The University of Adelaide is prominent in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, with academics contributing to three new reviews.

The online publication is one of the main international resources for clinicians and consumers seeking information to help them make decisions about appropriate and effective health care. This is presented in the form of systematic reviews, or Cochrane Reviews, which are considered among the most rigorous in the world.

Each quarterly issue adds about 150 new or updated reviews to the existing 3000; of these, 10 to 20 deal with pregnancy and childbirth. Australia is an active contributor in this field, providing around a third of all reviews, but three from one university in one edition is noteworthy.

The contributors were Professor Caroline Crowther and Dr Jodie Dodd (who assessed trials examining the value of specialised antenatal clinics for women with a multiple pregnancy), Dr Joseph Thomas (the use of Phenobarbital to reduce jaundice in babies born to mothers with incompatible blood) and Ms Philippa Middleton (the use of zinc supplementation to improve pregnancy and infant outcomes).

The University of Adelaide is the Australian support centre for academics contributing to the international publication in the pregnancy and childbirth area. Ms Middleton acts as the Cochrane Systematic Review Coordinator.

Reviewers apply to fill gaps in current research knowledge based on their own research experience or interests, or from a list of areas nominated by an editorial committee.

Australia is one of the first countries to negotiate a national subscription to The Cochrane Library, funded by the Federal Government. All Australians have free access through the Internet at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/mrwhome/106568753/HOME

Story by Nick Carne