Several pre-colloquium symposia are being organised for the two days prior to the official begin of the Colloquium, as well as the day after the Colloquium. All pre- and post-colloquium symposia (1 Oct, 2 Oct, 8 Oct) will be held at an external venue in a central location and will require separate registration and sometimes an additional registration fee. In addition, some all-day workshops are being organised for the first official Colloquium day (3 Oct) and will take place at the Colloquium venue (Messe Reed Congress Center).
The location for the pre-colloquium symposia is the Palais Niederösterreich in the Herrengasse, first district (1010 Vienna) as well as the Hotel Marriott Wien Messe (opposite the congress venue).
To register, please scroll to the bottom of this page.
Here is an overview of the Colloquium program schedule in relation to symposia and all-day workshops:
Thu1 Oct | Fri2 Oct | Sat3 Oct | Sun4 Oct | Mon5 Oct | Tue6 Oct | Wed7 Oct | Thu8 Oct |
| Symposia & workshops | Symposia & workshops | Workshops | plenary | plenary | plenary | plenary | Meeting |
| Symposia & workshops | Symposia & workshops | Workshops | sessions | sessions | sessions | sessions | Meeting |
| LUNCH | LUNCH | LUNCH | LUNCH | LUNCH | LUNCH | LUNCH | |
| Symposia & workshops | Symposia & workshops | Workshops & business meetings | sessions | sessions | sessions | ||
| Symposia & workshops | Symposia & workshops | Workshops & business meetings | sessions | sessions | plenary |
List of pre-Colloquium Symposia and all-day workshops:
Thursday 1 October, 2015 (Palais Niederösterreich & Hotel Courtyard Marriott Wien Messe)
Cochrane Steering Group Meeting 09:00 - 18:00 | Cochrane Steering Group Meeting (at the Palais Niederösterreich) Contact: Lorna McAlley. This is a closed meeting for Cochrane Steering Group (CSG) members only. |
Wikipedia Symposium 09:00 - 17:00 | Wikipedia Symposium (at the Palais Niederösterreich) Contact: Nancy Owens Cochrane and Wikipedia have been working in partnership since 2013 to improve the evidence base of Wikipedia articles on healthcare topics. This pre-conference symposium will provide an opportunity to bring together some of the most established contributors to Cochrane evidence and Wikipedia healthcare content worldwide, working in both English and German. Through this event, we hope to highlight the importance and relevance of this partnership to both organizations, establish and develop relationships between the Cochrane and Wikipedia communities, and inspire broader participation in furthering the partnership. The content will include presentations, discussion, and demonstrations on a number of relevant topics, including: - how to cite high-quality sources such as systematic reviews within Wikipedia - translation initiatives in Germany and Austria - updates on current and planned partnership initiatives If you’re interested in getting the highest-quality healthcare evidence into the most-used healthcare resource in the world, join us on 1 October and find out more! Registration opens: 8:45 Program: 9:30 - 17:00 |
Cochrane Health Economics Workshop (2 days) 09:00-17:00 | Cochrane Health Economics Workshop (at the Couryard Marriott Wien Messe) Contact: Luke Vale. This two-day workshop is designed to provide an introduction to health economics. This is an opportunity for those with an interest in using health economics of for those with limited experience to move from the first principles of economic evaluation to practical application of the techniques. Day 1 (1st October): In the morning a brief introduction to health economics will be provided covering the main types of economic evaluation used in health care. In the afternoon we go on to consider how the cost components of an economic evaluation can be completed. This will include how the costs can be identified, measured and valued, as well as key things to consider when estimating costs. Day 2 (2nd October): The morning will be spent considering how benefits of health care can be identified, measured and valued. In the afternoon we will consider when an economic evaluation shuold be conducted and, in practical terms how an economic evaluation might be performed. |
Indirect comparisons and network meta-analysis in Cochrane Reviews 09:00-17:00 | Indirect comparisons and network meta-analysis in Cochrane Reviews (at the Couryard Marriott Wien Messe) Contact: Tianjing Li or Anna Chaimani Standard Cochrane reviews usually focus on the comparison of two interventions, such as drug versus placebo or the standard care. However, the presence of only two competing interventions for any given condition is rare in clinical practice. Methods that allow the simultaneous comparison of three or more interventions have become popular in recent years but have been incorporated only in a small number of Cochrane reviews. This workshop will introduce the concepts and methods of indirect comparison and network meta-analysis in the context of a Cochrane systematic review, following the new Handbook Chapter drafted by the Comparing Multiple Interventions Methods Group. The target audience include Cochrane authors, methodologists, statisticians, and editors who would like to become familiar with the principles of indirect comparisons and network meta-analysis. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to describe the steps of incorporating network meta-analysis into their Cochrane review, perform simple indirect comparison and network meta-analysis, present the findings, access the quality of the evidence base, and interpret the results. |
IKMD Meeting 09:00-18:00 | IKMD Meeting (at the Couryard Marriott Wien Messe) Contact: Tom Cracknell This is a closed meeting for members only. |
Friday 2 October, 2015 (Palais Niederösterreich & Hotel Courtyard Marriott Wien Messe)
Cochrane Nutrition Symposium 09:00 - 17:00 | Cochrane Nutrition Symposium (at the Palais Niederösterreich) Contact: Hilary Simmonds Dietary risk factors are the leading contributors to the global burden of disease. There is increasing recognition of the importance of dietary patterns and changes in food systems that are driving the rise in obesity and NCDs around the world. To date we do not have good ways to assess these trends in for example consumption of highly processed foods. This lack of data and the current models of evidence synthesis are not adequate for supporting evidence based policy. Questions that arise include: How should nutrition reviews be prioritised? What models of evidence synthesis are needed? What governance arrangements are needed to manage potential conflicts of interest? The aim of the Symposium is to promote a discussion about how Cochrane Reviews could address nutrition questions more effectively. There will be presentations from an international group of experts both from outside and inside Cochrane that will focus on how nutrition reviews are prioritised, their governance arrangements, methods, and the role of industry. The afternoon will include interactive round table discussions to develop further the issues raised, and to inform a framework for Cochrane to move forward. |
Cochrane Methods Symposium 09:00-17:00 | 2015 Annual Cochrane Methods Symposium PLEASE NOTE REGISTRATION COMMENCES 8.30am for a 9.00 start "Why do we need Evidence Based Methods in Cochrane?"* Professor John Ioannidis from Stanford University will present on "Increasing value, reducing waste in research: a role for meta-epidemiology" *See recently published editorial on the Cochrane Library Confirmed speakers include: Julian Higgins, Mark Simmonds, James Thomas, Elie Akl, Jon Deeks, Yemisi Takwoingi, Barney Reeves, Jane Noyes, Mona Nasser, Carl Moons, Toby Lasserson, Fiona Alderdice, Valerie Smith and Jeremy Grimshaw. This year’s methods symposium aims to raise the profile of an evidence-based approach to the methods used in Cochrane reviews, and discuss ways we assess and evaluate our methods. Methods underpin systematic reviews, therefore, their evaluation and development is necessary to ensure the results from systematic reviews are not misleading. Likewise, such methods research can play a critical role in reducing waste in research. Finally, we will debate the freedom Cochrane Review Groups should have to determine the methods they employ in their reviews. Ian Roberts, Co-ordinating editor will speak for the motion and Karla Soares Weiser our recently appointed deputy Editor in Chief will speak against the motion. Debate: In 1995, Dave Sackett described Cochrane as an aeroplane flying whilst it was still being built. Twenty years later, in their editorial after Dave’s death, Iain Chalmers and Andy Oxman suggested that Cochrane is still trying to build the plane while flying it. In the meantime, have other planes been built? How should Cochrane learn from them to ensure that the plane it builds is for the 2020s, not for the year 2000? Motion: Cochrane Groups should be free to use any methods they consider most appropriate for their reviews. More information will be available This event will be held in the Landtagssaal Room in the Palais Niederösterreich which contains an impressive ceiling fresco by Antoino Beuzzi dating from 1701, certainly worth a visit! Co-chairs Professor Mike Clarke and Dr Jo McKenzie Mike has 25 years’ experience of the conduct and oversight of randomised trials, systematic reviews and other types of prospective research. Previously, Centre Director of the UK Cochrane Centre. He is currently the inaugural Director of the All Ireland Hub for Trials Methodology Research and the Co-ordinating editor of the Cochrane Methodology Review Group. Jo is a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University. She is a Co-Convenor of the Statistical Methods Group. Her research interests include methodological issues in meta-analysis of randomised trials with continuous outcomes, selective inclusion and reporting of results in randomised trials and systematic reviews, and approaches to synthesising evidence in systematic reviews of policy, public health, and health service delivery interventions. Further information on the programme and speakers will provided once all details are confirmed. You can register on the Colloquium site by logging in to your account. A nominal fee of 50 euros will be charged for this event to cover costs. Contact: Maria Burgess |
Cochrane Register of Studies (CRS) Training Day 09:00-17:00 | Cochrane Register of Studies (CRS) Training Day (at the Palais Niederösterreich) Contact: Ruth Foxlee This workshop is intended for Cochrane Trials Search Co-ordinators and any other staff who are responsible for managing information retrieval activities for their Cochrane group. Participants will have an opportunity to learn more about the new web-based version of the CRS which will replace the CRS standalone version. We will also discuss the benefits and challenges of standardising data capture in the CRS. |
Cochrane Steering Group Meeting 08:30 - 17:00 | Cochrane Steering Group Meeting (at the Palais Niederösterreich) Contact: Lorna McAlley This is a closed meeting for Cochrane Steering Group (CSG) members only. |
Cochrane Health Economics Workshop (2 days) 09:00-17:00 | Cochrane Health Economics Workshop (at the Couryard Marriott Wien Messe) Contact: Luke Vale This two-day workshop is designed to provide an introduction to health economics. This is an opportunity for those with an interest in using health economics of for those with limited experience to move from the first principles of economic evaluation to practical application of the techniques. Day 1 (1st October): In the morning a brief introduction to health economics will be provided covering the main types of economic evaluation used in health care. In the afternoon we go on to consider how the cost components of an economic evaluation can be completed. This will include how the costs can be identified, measured and valued, as well as key things to consider when estimating costs. Day 2 (2nd October): The morning will be spent considering how benefits of health care can be identified, measured and valued. In the afternoon we will consider when an economic evaluation shuold be conducted and, in practical terms how an economic evaluation might be performed. |
Automation of systematic reviews "DIGEST) 09:30-16:30 | The DIGEST group: International Collaboration about Automation of To sign up, please contact Paul Glasziou and Hans Lund For further information please visit http://ebrnetwork.org. |
List of Workshops:
Saturday 3rd October, 2015 (Congress Centre Messe Wien)
GRADE Workshop 09:00 -17:00 | GRADE Workshop Contact: Nancy Santesso Room: Schubert 5&6 Interpreting results of Cochrane reviews and Summary of Findings Tables: GRADE and SoF Workshop This workshop is available for authors of reviews, editors and staff of Cochrane Review Groups, and people interested in learning about GRADE and Summary of Findings Tables (SoF). Our goal is to help you:
Much of this workshop is interactive, with hands-on work and small group discussions. We will describe the GRADE criteria (risk of bias, inconsistency, imprecision, indirectness, publicaion bias and others) and teach participants to use the GRADEpro sofware - for PC and Mac users. The goal is for participants to apply and practice using GRADE. Depending on interest, there will also be time for small flexible working grops to specifially discss GRADE and its application in guideline development, editorial issues with GRADE and SoFs, GRADE and diagnostic reviews, SoFs for complex reviews, or advanced issues in GRADE. Note: Participants should come with laptops or plan to share with someone. Registration: Free for those registered for the Colloquium but you have to sign up (limited to 50 people, so sign up early, sign up opens online on August 26). |
Helping people make sense of claims about treatments 09:00 - 17:00 | Helping people make sense of claims about treatments Contact: Andy Oxman or Iain Chalmers. Room: Schubert 4 People are confronted with claims about the effects of treatments and health policies daily. To assess these claims people need to be able to understand and apply basic concepts that are essential for assessing the reliability of such claims. This workshop will focus on resources to help people to assess claims about treatments, including a list of key concepts that people need to understand to make sense of claims about treatments, a plain language glossary of research terms, resources for patients, the public, students, teachers, journalists, and mass media. We will present and discuss these resources and other ways of helping people to make well-informed healthcare choices. |
Methods for Cochrane reviews of diagnostic test accuracy 09:00 - 17:15 | Methods for Cochrane reviews of diagnostic test accuracy Contact: Yemisi Takwoingi Room: Schubert 1 This one-day workshop, organised by the Cochrane Screening and Diagnostic Test Methods Group, is designed for individuals interested in understanding key issues in the design and conduct of Cochrane reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. The workshop combines our series of workshops usually run throughout the Colloquium into a one-day programme, and will be delivered through a mixture of interactive presentations, discussions and small group exercises. The workshop is based on guidelines as formulated in the Handbook for Diagnostic Test Accuracy Reviews. Participants will be introduced to the process of question formulation for a DTA review; the methodology for quality assessment; the principles of meta-analysis and recommended statistical methods; potential sources of heterogeneity and methods for assessing heterogeneity; comparisons of test accuracy; and presenting and interpreting results. Target audience: authors and others interested in diagnostic test accuracy reviews Level of knowledge required: basic but knowledge of meta-analysis and meta-regression for intervention reviews will be an advantage Type of workshop: training Sign up for this one-day workshop will open along with all other workshops on To sign up, click on "Registration: Additional bookings" on the left hand menu. |
List of post-Colloquium Symposia and all-day workshops:
Thursday 8 October, 2015 (Hotel Courtyard Marriott Wien Messe except Overview of Systematic Reviews meeting)
Overviews of Systematic Reviews 10:00-13:30 | Overviews of Systematic Reviews (Hotel Astoria) Contact: Joanne McKenzie This half-day meeting (10:00-13:30) is intended for researchers interested in advancing the methods of overviews of systematic reviews and developing a research agenda. The meeting will begin with an update from three research teams (based in Australia, Canada and Germany) on current methodological work relating to the conduct and reporting of overviews. Other groups involved in overviews research are welcome to prpose brief presentations. The remainder of the meeting will focus on the key methods issues for overviews. The intended outcome of the meeting is to create a map of current and future research in relation to overviews, explore the potential for a group dedicated to overviews, and to promote international collaborations. |
Cochrane Steering Group Meeting 08:30 - 18:00 | Cochrane Steering Group Meeting (at the Courtyard Marriott Schönbrunn) Contact: Lorna McAlley. This is a closed meeting for Cochrane Steering Group (CSG) members only. |