Cochrane reviews in pregnancy: The role of perinatal randomized trials and systematic reviews in establishing evidence

SummaryEvidence from randomized trials and systematic reviews provides the highest level of evidence from which to make clinical decisions. There are over 340 Cochrane reviews and protocols in pregnancy and childbirth; these provide the best single source of evidence for care of pregnant women and their babies, and highlight further research priorities. The challenges to health professionals are to ensure that the Cochrane reviews are prepared, kept up to date, and used in clinical care, and where relevant reliable evidence is not available to ensure that high-quality randomized trials are promptly conducted.