CENTRAL Management Plan
Download a specific chapter or appendix:

1. Introduction (PDF)
    
2. Guide for Submission of Specialized Registers to CENTRAL (PDF)
   The Specialized Register Guide is for the person within a Collaborative Review Group (CRG) or Field/Network who is responsible for submission of that entity's specialized register to CENTRAL (the CENTRAL register of studies that are possibly relevant for inclusion in Cochrane systematic reviews). This is usually the Review Group Coordinator (RGC) or Trials Search Coordinator (TSC).
    
   Appendix 1: Tags to be used with ASCII export files (PDF)
    
   Appendix 2: CRG or Field/Network SR codes (PDF)
    
   *Appendix 3: Submission Form for Centralized CENTRAL Specialized Registers (PDF)
    
   Appendix 4: FTP "How To" Manual (PDF)
    
3. Guide for Submission of Hand Search Results to CENTRAL (PDF)
   The Hand Search Guide provides instructions for members of the Cochrane Collaboration who are hand searching healthcare journals to identify randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials. It provides guidelines and instructions for searching and/or coordinating the search of healthcare journals, and procedures for submitting citations to the identified reports to the US Cochrane Center.
    
   *Appendix 1: Journal Hand Search Registration Form (PDF)
    
   *Appendix 2: "Stand-Alone" Conference Proceedings Hand Search Registration Form (PDF)
    
   Appendix 3: Data entry specifications for journal citation data not present in MEDLINE (1966 to present) (PDF)
    
   Appendix 4: Data entry specifications for non-journal article reference types (PDF)
    
   *Appendix 5: Submission Form for Hand Search Results for CENTRAL (PDF)
    
4. Coding of Records in CENTRAL as CCTR and Correction of Records (PDF)
   This Coding of Records section describes the processes by which records in CENTRAL will be included in the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR) and by which errors in CENTRAL and CCTR will be corrected.
    
5. Work Performed by the USCC in the Development and Management of CENTRAL (PDF)
   This section describes how the USCC is involved in developing and maintaining CENTRAL through its role as the coordinating and processing center for the Cochrane Collaboration's hand and electronic searching activities.
    
6. Update Software's System for Processing Specialized Registers and Hand Search Results (PDF)
   This section describes the work performed by Update Software in the development and management of CENTRAL
    
7. Searching CENTRAL (PDF)
   This section provides information about searching CENTRAL that is specific to the needs of Cochrane Review Groups for developing and maintaining their specialized registers, as well as other interested parties.

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