Cochrane Engage is used primarily by Cochrane groups and authors who are looking for assistance in their work, giving valuable learning opportunities to volunteers looking to use and improve their skills. It can also be used by people working in evidence based healthcare who are looking for support from the Cochrane Engage community. This approach helps us to further our organizational principles of ‘Building on the enthusiasm of individuals’ and ‘Enabling wide participation’. 

To ensure this platform reflects the values that Cochrane stands for, we have developed the following rules for users to follow when posting tasks, updating their profile and making comments and recommendations:  

1. Users who are not part of a Cochrane Group or Cochrane author team may only have up to 3 tasks published at one time to avoid overloading our volunteers  
2. You may only post tasks that are asking for help with a specific opportunity that relates to Evidence Based Healthcare. If you wish to promote your skills please do this by updating your profile rather than creating a task. 
3. You must not post any material that is listed in section 3.8 of the Cochrane Account terms and conditions (examples include but are not limited to: content that is harmful, discriminatory  or otherwise illegal), or that constitutes unacceptable behaviours of harassment, bullying or victimisation as defined in section 3 of the Principles of collaboration 
4. Although we welcome academic debate, to ensure a respectful, inclusive, and fact-based space for volunteers and community members, we do not allow the posting or promotion of conspiracy theories on this platform. This includes content that promotes or spreads: 
   1. Debunked or unfounded claims not supported by credible evidence, 
   2. Misinformation related to public health (e.g., anti-vaccine falsehoods, COVID-19 denial), 
   3. Political or social conspiracy narratives (e.g., QAnon, “deep state” theories), 
   4. Hoaxes or deliberate attempts to mislead the community, 

We reserve the right to determine, in our sole discretion, what constitutes a conspiracy theory based on guidance from credible sources and fact-checking organizations. 

Cochrane Engage has the functionality for any user to report a task as problematic and the Cochrane Engage team reserves the right to delete any task that, in our sole discretion, does not meet our standards. Our complaints procedure is available if anyone wishes to challenge a decision to delete a task.

If you are unsure whether your task is suitable for Cochrane Engage please contact engage@cochrane.org for some guidance.