Media release
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
The University of Auckland
24 September 2012
Auckland To Host Prestigious Evidence-Based Healthcare Meeting
New Zealand will for the first time host the annual meeting of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international network that
produces high quality, independent information to help medical practitioners, consumers and policy makers with their
healthcare decisions.
The 20th Cochrane Colloquium, on the theme “Evidence around the globe”, will be held from 30 September to 3 October 2012
at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. It is hosted by the New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Cochrane Centre, based at
The University of Auckland’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and co-led by the University’s Professor Cindy
Farquhar and Dr Mark Jeffery of Christchurch.
Examples of the issues to be discussed include whether we can trust the research used to guide healthcare decisions, how
to prevent over-diagnosis of disease, whether research evidence can reduce health inequalities, and how evidence has
been turned into action in New Zealand.
Amongst the international speakers are Richard Smith, director of the United Health Chronic Disease Initiative and
former editor of the British Medical Journal; Dr Norman Swan, host of the Health Report on ABC Radio National; and
health journalist and researcher Ray Moynihan.
Plenary speakers from The University of Auckland include biostatistician Professor Thomas Lumley, general practice and
primary healthcare expert Professor Bruce Arroll, and epidemiologist Professor Rod Jackson.
The event has already drawn more than 500 delegates from around the world including leading systematic review
methodologists, guideline developers and policy makers.
Further information can be found at: http://colloquium.cochrane.org
Notes
The New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Cochrane Centre, the host and organiser of the 20th Cochrane Colloquium, is
based in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of
Auckland.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international network that helps healthcare providers, policy-makers, patients, their
advocates and carers, make well-informed decisions about health care, by preparing, updating, and promoting the
accessibility of Cochrane Reviews. It also prepares the largest collection of records of randomised controlled trials in
the world.
Cochrane Reviews are designed to facilitate the choices that practitioners, consumers, policy-makers and others face in
health care. They are systematic reviews of primary research in human health care and health policy, and are
internationally recognised as the highest standard in evidence-based health care.
Consumers of medical services may use the reviews as part of their informed decision making about a treatment or
procedure. New Zealanders can access the Cochrane Library free of charge by clicking on the link on the New Zealand
Branch website
ENDS