[New horizons in evidence-based haematological oncology: outcome and importance of the scientific activities of the Cochrane Haematologicial Malignancies Group (CHMG)]

Abstract

Rising mortality and incidence rates for lymphoma and leukaemia in Germany are of great concern as they have socio-economic and health services implications. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is one strategy to improve health outcomes of patients with haematological malignancies. The Cologne (Germany) based Cochrane Haematological Malignancies Group (CHMG) is an integral part of the Competence Network Malignant Lymphomas and sponsored by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Since its establishment in October 2000 the CHMG has published 8 systematic Cochrane reviews and 16 Cochrane protocols covering a wide range of therapeutic interventions for malignant haematological conditions. The CHMG specialised clinical trials register contains more than 5000 reports of randomised trials, and the group actively involves health consumers (patients and others affected by haematological neoplasia) in the review process. This article describes the synergies of CHMG activities and EBM in the field of haemato-oncology.