Cochrane systematic review as a PhD thesis: an alternative with numerous advantages

In this article we propose that the production of a systematic review within The Cochrane Collaboration should be considered a valid mode of achieving doctoral title in medicine and related professions, including biochemistry. While engaging in a Cochrane systematic review, an author fi rst registers a title, then writes a peer-reviewed protocol consisting of introduction and methods, and fi nally publishes a full systematic review in The Cochrane Library, a monthly publication, which in 2009 reached an impact factor of 5.65. Conducting a Cochrane systematic review can give PhD candidates not only an opportunity to acquire a high level of content and methodological expertise, but also the capacity to learn and solve problems by using critical and analytical thinking. This capacity is considered one of the key generic and transferable skills necessary for future researchers. While working on a Cochrane systematic review, an author builds international research network. Cochrane Review Groups as editorial bases of The Cochrane Collaboration off er ongoing support and advice to the authors. Besides being clinically relevant and high-impact, Cochrane systematic reviews should be especially interesting to doctoral students from low-and middle-income countries because they are associated with relatively small fi nancial burden. In conclusion, systematic reviews have a number of advantages and therefore institutions off ering postgraduate training should consider adopting a "Cochrane PhD", and students should consider doing a Cohrane systematic review for their doctoral thesis.