The Cochrane Library
On October 18, the Australian Government has announced at that the National Institute of Clinical Studies has negotiated a license to provide free access by all Australians to the data held in the Cochrane Library. As most people working in the field of maternity will know, the Cochrane Library is THE repository of Randomised Controlled Trials concerning many aspects of health care. It began, over 20 years ago, by looking into maternity and obstetric care because this was the area of medicine least evaluated and most in need of reform. Since then it has expanded into other areas of medicine.
Although only 10% of interventions and treatments in medical care have been assessed, it is expanding quite quickly and there are currently 1,500 completed reviews and another 1,000 in progress. 60 reviews are being added to each quarterly update.
This is an initiative that will enable consumers as well as health professionals to keep as up to date as possible in terms of appropriate care. It is particularly relevant for those of us concerned with birth, because as a normal process and a wellness condition, it flourishes best when interventions are kept for those few mothers and babies who need them. The old excuses of meddling to “save the baby” and installing routine procedures without any or adequate testing should now be over. We are starting to amass the science - now all that is needed is to use it!