Plain Language Expectations for Authors of Cochrane Summaries (PLEACS)

Background

In 2011, the visibility of Plain Language Summaries (PLS) has taken a colossal leap forward. The redesign of The Cochrane Library has enabled greater identification of Cochrane Reviews by a typical Google search. The new website, Cochrane Summaries (http://summaries.cochrane.org), now offers Cochrane PLS in multi-lingual formats for better accessibility. Furthermore, we have extended the reach of Cochrane Reviews through the National Library of Medicine’s inclusion of Cochrane PLS on PubMed Health, a new consumer-oriented tool for locating evidence-based medicine.

At the same time, Cochrane is experiencing an internal push to improve the quality of materials. The Method’s Groups initiated the ‘Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR) project to define the methodological standards necessary in the conduct of review preparation. The Cochrane Editorial Unit’s (CEU) audit of the content of abstracts, plain language summaries and summary of findings tables has revealed some flaws in current knowledge translation production. These internal activities have identified a gap in the minimum reporting standards for knowledge translation products, such as PLS.

PLEACS Project (pronounced 'pleeks')

At the Madrid Colloquium in 2011, we proposed a new initiative, Plain Language Expectations for Authors of Cochrane Summaries (PLEACS), to build on the MECIR recommendations by developing similar requirements for the Plain Language Summaries (PLS) that accompany Cochrane Reviews. This initiative builds on discussions with the Cochrane Editorial Unit, members of the Cochrane Consumer Network, the Consumers’ Executive, and the Cochrane Summaries (http://summaries.cochrane.org) Web Team.

The purposes of this project include (i) to define the minimum content requirements of PLS; (ii) to define online style and format recommendations for PLS (iii) to improve quality and consistency of PLS; (iv) to support PLS authors through the development of clear guidance; and (iv) to inform development of check lists, Handbook guidance and software modifications.

Project Goals

The project aims to define the minimum standards for the content and to define style and format recommendations for Plain Language Summary. This project will be of assistance to both authors and Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs) by improving the quality and consistency of PLS in its various online forms, informing the development of checklists, Handbook guidance & RevMan modifications and supporting PLS authors to adhere to these standards by developing clear guidance. The mandatory standards must be realistic for the CRGs to put into place.

Summary of PLEACS tasks

PHASE 1: Identify, for Cochrane PLS:

    A. Mandatory standards (must do’s)
    B. Highly desirable standards (should do’s)
    C. Common errors
    D. Examples of good practice

PHASE 2: Provide specific recommendations on how Handbook guidance should be modified.

PHASE 3: Define style and format guidelines for PLS

PHASE 4: Developing PLS guidance and checklists

PLEACS Project Plan

PHASE 1: Defining the mandatory content for inclusion in a PLS

Including title; background; statement of the condition, statements about included studies (including considerations of harms, patient reported outcomes, economic outcomes, equity, qualitative evidence, non-randomised studies, language of publication and availability of usable data); conflict of interest and funding.

PHASE 2: Provide specific recommendations for Handbook guidance

Major amendments will need to be approved by the Methods Board; minor amendments can be made by the Handbook editors in consultation with the Handbook Editorial Advisory Panel (HEAP).

PHASE 3: Defining style and format guidelines for PLS

Including requirements for better presentation in online publishing and use of plain language

PHASE 4: Developing PLS guidance and checklists with the Editorial Resource Committee (ERC)

Including planning resource development for new tools.
The ERC process for resource development will take place outside the scope of this working group. All checklists will need to be approved by the ERC

PLEACS Working Group

The co-convenors for this project are Catherine McIlwain (Consumer Coordinator) and David Tovey (Cochrane Editorial Unit). Jackie Chandler (Methods Coordinator) and Lorne Becker (Web Team) will join the co-convenors as members of a coordinating group that will refine the working group’s ideas and prepare the recommendations for implementation. Responsibility for the final product lies with the co-ordinating group. The intention is to launch of an initial set of minimum standards for the content of plain language summaries at The Cochrane Collaboration’s Mid-year Meeting in Paris in 2012.

The PLEACS working group will develop a list of minimum requirements for content to be included in all PLS, followed by format and style guidelines for the PLS. The working group contains representatives nominated by the CEU, MECIR team, ME Exec, Consumers’ Exec, CCNet Advisory Board, Consumers and Communications review group, Opportunities Fund researchers from the Norwegian Knowledge Centre (for their work on PLS format and style guidelines) and the Musculoskeletal review group (for their experience implementing PLS format and style guidelines).

A larger Advisory Group will be formed for interested persons to be involved in the process by providing comments at key stages during project. To join the PLEACS Advisory Group, email Catherine McIlwain at cmcilwain@cochrane.org.

The MECIR Program

This PLEACS project is part of the wide Methodological Expectations for Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR) initiative, which consists of the conduct standards and reporting standards for all intervention reviews. To learn more about the MECIR program, please click here.

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