title: [Patient participation in the Cochrane Collaboration: how can patients/consumers actively participate in a worldwide Cochrane Review Group?].
abstract: In Cochrane Review Groups, consumers are usually involved in every phase of the production of systematic reviews, as patient-oriented outcomes are expected to be integral part of all review projects. A further enlargement of participation consists of a new project aimed at contacting patient organizations worldwide, in order to identify particular socio-cultural preferences and needs and to integrate them in the work of the Review Groups. As a first step, information about healthcare issues from people suffering from metabolic and endocrine disorders is gathered by means of structured questionnaires. These activities should be able to detect new research areas, and to draw the attention of the sponsors to a possible western-focused bias in the preparation of systematic reviews.
authors.affiliation: Cochrane Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders Review Group, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf. richterb@uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bandeira-Echtler
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires