Hi DocSarah,
Thanks for considering this request!! As you can see, xxxx suggested writing the article, a min. of 400 words, then later suggested managing a formal review study (for later I presume- the long article you mentioned).. review Group co-ordinator, who can either accept your article, or relay it ... However, I am not so sure ARC is as rare as she thinks it is...
Hopefully we can get some coverage on this. I am still working on the Neurology Now US magazine, who promised to do an article on ARC/AA a year ago, but never did.
Thanks many tons for your assistance, and best wishes for a better New Year for you and all arachniacs.
Sincerely,
Alex
FROM>
Review Group Co-ordinator
Cochrane Pain, Palliative & Supportive Care Review Group
Pain Research Unit
The Churchill Hospital
Oxford
UK
OX3 7LJ
www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/cochrane/
The Cochrane Library website:
www.thecochranelibrary.com
Latest Cochrane reviews:
www.cochrane.org/reviews/
I have had an e-mail reply today from Janet at the Consumer network at
Cochrane. She suggests that you write an article drawing attention to
Arachnoiditis for the Cochrane Newsletter, how it is caught/contracted
normally and how it affects the individual sufferers to explain to those
who don't know. Within the article you can highlight how little
evidence there is available on treating this condition and highlight
that it would perhaps benefit those suffering from this condition to
have a systematic review written on it drawing attention to the lack of
research available and if anyone is interested then contact (probably
our group I guess) etc. I would suggest that you write between 400-500
words and send it to us and we will copy edit it and check it before
sending it on to the Editor of the newsletter.
I am concerned that Cochrane may not be the best place for you to be
putting your energy in to, however, as this is a condition with very
little data. If a systematic review was to be written, chances are it
would most simply highlight the lack of available evidence on this
condition, which is not necessarily un-helpful, as this too can be
useful. However, it is quite probable that as this disease is so rare,
it will be difficult to ever gather randomised controlled trial data on
it which is what Cochrane Systematic reviews base there searches upon.
I am not trying to put you off writing this article, however, as it may
be fruitful as many clinicians do work in association with Cochrane and
it might grab their attention. The only other journal I can think of
where it might be helpful for you to discuss trying to get some focus on
this disease is the British Medical journal or BMJ, but I am afraid I
have no contacts with them so cannot advise you on who to contact
there.
Please let me know if you are happy to go ahead and write this article
so I can know to expect it in the new year.
Best wishes<br><br>Post edited by: yankeewhiskeyvictor, at: 2006/01/20 12:12