A major collaborative, international, randomised controlled trial is now underway, led by Julie Bernhardt (AVERT Trial, ACTRN12606000185561). This trial has recruited over 1700 participants and will make a substantial contribution to informing management of people following stroke. As it moves into its third decade, Cochrane has affirmed its vision of a world with improved health, where decisions about health care are
informed by high-quality, relevant and up-to-date synthesised research evidence. A new strategic plan, Strategy to 2020, includes goals that respond to current challenges in evidence synthesis and use. Cochrane will continue its emphasis on producing systematic reviews and other synthesised research evidence, but will increase focus on making Cochrane evidence accessible, both in terms of moving to an open access model of publishing and improving HKI 272 the usability of Cochrane reviews. In pursuit of these aims, Cochrane has recently embarked on a massive translation effort. Abstracts and plain language summaries of Cochrane reviews are now available in French, Spanish and Chinese, and there are plans to extend this to the other WHO official languages – Arabic and Russian. Cochrane has always played a role in advocating for evidence-based health care, and it plans to step up its activities in this area by becoming the ‘home of evidence’ to inform health
decision-making, and building greater recognition of its role and impact. These ambitious goals will require ongoing collaborative effort across these disciplines and regions. Cochrane will continue to rely on the Epigenetic inhibitor contributions of review authors and users of evidence. Involvement in Cochrane’s work, whether through authoring a review or by basing treatment decisions, professional development and advocacy on Cochrane evidence, represents opportunities for physiotherapy to grow the evidence base that underpins our profession, and enables us to share a vision of better health
and healthcare. For more information about becoming involved in Cochrane, see www.cochrane.org Acknowledgements: Cathie Sherrington, Julie Bernhardt. Correspondence: Professor Sally Green, Australasian Cochrane Centre, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Email: [email protected] “
“Whiplash-associated disorders’ (WAD) is the term given to the variety of symptoms often reported by people following acceleration/deceleration injury to the neck, most commonly via a road traffic crash. The cardinal symptom is neck pain but neck stiffness, dizziness, paraesthesia/anaesthesia in the upper quadrant, headache and arm pain are also commonly reported. The neck-related pain is associated with disability, decreased quality of life, and psychological distress. Due to WAD often being a compensable injury, it is a controversial condition, with some still denying it as a legitimate condition.