Patient and Public Network

The Cochrane Patient and Public Network is for anyone interested in health evidence, and helping to produce and share high-quality evidence.

By actively involving patients and the public in our work, we aim to bridge this gap, giving them a voice and empowering them to contribute meaningfully to the generation of high-quality evidence. Their unique perspectives, experiences, and priorities enrich our research, ensuring that it remains relevant, patient-centered, and impactful.

Incorporating patient input not only improve the credibility and applicability of our findings, but also fosters a sense of responsibility and accountability within the healthcare community. By working hand in hand with them, we can make evidence-informed healthcare decisions more inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the actual needs of all individuals.

The Cochrane Patient and Public Network is a growing community of more than 2,500 people in over 100 countries. When we say 'patients and the public', we mean patients and potential patients, carers, people who use health and social care services, and people or organizations that represent these groups.

The Patient and Public Network is free to join. You won’t be expected to have technical knowledge of how research works. What makes your input unique, and so valuable, is your lived experience with the health system. Researchers may understand health challenges from textbooks, but they don’t always understand what it’s like to navigate treatments or care services firsthand. That’s where you come in!

Check out the Patient and Public Network to learn how to get involved!

What can we do together?

Patients, including individuals with multiple sclerosis or similar central nervous system disorders, as well as their family members and caregivers, play a crucial role in our group.

They can engage through informal networks, both locally and globally. When new consumers join, they receive an introductory package that explains our group's operations and the steps involved in reviewing.

Their input is invaluable for prioritizing reviews, selecting topics, and defining relevant outcomes. Additionally, they can actively participate in the review process, including peer review and assisting authors in drafting plain-language summaries.

This is an example of our group's commitment to placing consumer involvement at the heart of MS research: Priority Setting Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis