Workshop type: Discussion.

Objective: To increase awareness of the need for specific consideration of the inclusion of children in reviews, and the impact of this need on the methods used in developing a review and the way information is reported.

Summary:
The Cochrane Child Health Field is committed to facilitating the production and dissemination of high-quality, child-relevant reviews to improve the health of children worldwide. 

The Field is active in studying how pediatric data is handled in Cochrane reviews.  In 2003-04, we analyzed 408 reviews on child-relevant topics; of these, only 52% included children, and sub-group analysis by age was planned in 20% (Cramer et al, 2005). To document current policy and practice within the Collaboration, the Field surveyed all Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs) in 2006.  Fifty-seven percent responded. Of these, 27 had reviews on child-relevant topics and 23 had re views that included pediatric data. Half reported including a statement about treatment effectiveness for children or child-relevant age groups in the results, implications for practice or synopsis. A minority ( & lt;30%) included pediatric-specific search filters or required review authors to stipulate subgroup analysis of children or age groups at protocol stage. Most ( & gt;65%) said it would be helpful to have a Child Health Field member peer review protocols and reviews, and requested more information about handling children in reviews. 

Our studies demonstrate that information about children is often not available in reviews, and therefore not accessible to child health practitioners and policy makers.  In part, these findings reflect the paucity of treatment trials on children.  However, Cochrane review authors are also missing opportunities to present existing information about children, to identify important potential differences between adults and children in relation to interventions and outcomes and to highlight the lack of data about children. 

This workshop will focus on aspects of review development that may require modification if children are included.  Discussion will include search strategies, use of subgroup analysis, implications for outcome measures and presentation of findings. Special considerations regarding consumer groups and developing countries for reviews including children will also be discussed.

Intended audience: (i) Review authors (new and existing); (ii) trials Search Co-ordinators (iii) review Group Co-ordinators; (iv) anyone interested in including children in systematic reviews and interpreting review findings for pediatric health care.

Technical level expected of participants: Basic.