Editorial deadlines

Review authors and editorial deadlines for the CMED group are as follows:

Time from first concept to title registration
Once review authors have developed a concept they should visit the CMED group's website to check whether the topic already has been covered. If not, they should log in to Editorial Manager and follow the instructions for authors on submitting new proposals in order to express their interest in conducting a Cochrane Review. If the initial proposal is deemed eligible, within 1-2 weeks, the review authors are invited to submit a full review proposal via an online form. Editorial comments will usually be sent to review authors within 4 weeks. Once comments have been satisfactorily addressed, the title will be registered and checked to determine whether there is any substantial overlap with other Cochrane review groups. Title registration means that this title is reserved for you. Please note that title registration is no guarantee that the protocol/review will be published in the Cochrane Library.

Time from title registration to final protocol draft
After title registration, a highly standardised protocol template will be made available to review authors. The final protocol draft has to be checked into 'Editorial Manager' within 3 months for editorial approval, along with the completed protocol submission form embedded in the protocol, otherwise, the title might be deregistered. Editorial comments will usually be sent to the authors within 8-12 weeks after receipt of the protocol draft. Revised drafts should be checked into 'Editorial Manager' within 4 - 6 weeks and will usually be externally peer-reviewed within 4 weeks. Thereafter the protocol will be copy-edited (2 weeks) and published in the Cochrane Library once the conflict of interest and permission of publication forms for all review authors are completed.

Time from published protocol to final review draft
After protocol publication review, authors will be provided with a review template. The final review draft and the review submission form embedded in the review template should usually be checked into 'Editorial Manager' within 6 months for editorial approval. If no review draft is checked into 'Editorial Manager' within 12 months the protocol may get withdrawn. Editorial comments will usually be sent to the authors within 8 - 16 weeks after receipt of the review draft. Please note that the peer refereeing process might take longer for complicated or extensive reviews. Revised drafts should be checked into 'Editorial Manager' within 4 - 6 weeks and will usually be peer-reviewed again within 4 - 6 weeks. Thereafter the review will be copy-edited (2 weeks) and published in the Cochrane Library once the conflict of interest and permission of publication forms for all authors are completed.

Important: at the time of publication of the review the date of the last search must not be older than 12 months. Therefore, review authors will have to continuously make use of a MEDLINE email alert service established by the CMED group to identify newly published studies using the same search strategy as described for MEDLINE. After submitting the final review draft for editorial approval, the CMED Group will perform a complete updated search on all databases available at the editorial office and will send the results to the review authors. Should review authors identify new studies for inclusion, they will have to evaluate these, incorporate the findings into their review, and resubmit another review draft.

Time from published review to update
Please note: due to usually substantial improvements in the methodology and conduct of Cochrane reviews many Cochrane review updates comprise a new review approach and the same editorial deadlines as above apply. Review authors who want to establish a Cochrane review update have to contact the CMED group for guidance before starting their update project due to the CMED group's priority settings. Review authors of high priority reviews will be contacted by the CMED group.