If you are a regular reader of systematic reviews (SR), chances are that you have come across a database referred to as Cochrane CENTRAL listed among the databases often used in SR search methodology. This Cochrane resource contains the citation information and abstracts (not the full-text) of published and unpublished human studies reporting on a particular study design: randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials ONLY.

The published abstracts in CENTRAL are the controlled trials harvested from the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases using highly sensitive specialized search strategies. The rest of the content comes from Specialized Registries that are compiled and maintained by the various Cochrane Review Groups. This subgroup of unique content is derived in part by using hand-searching techniques and can include things like unpublished RCT studies reported on during scientific conference presentations. As this content may never end up appearing in the commercial databases (like EMBASE and MEDLINE), searching CENTRAL helps to combat the publication bias that may arise when searching only commercially published sources.

To access the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) database, first launch the Cochrane Library (Wiley) from the MSK Library’s A-Z list of databases. You can then perform a search by using the search box available to bring up some results from the various components of the Cochrane Library, among which you will find (listed in the menu on the left) “Trials”. The “Trials” search results are the records from CENTRAL. If you wish to limit your search to only the CENTRAL database, then click on “Search Limits” > select “Trials” > and click on “Apply” to continue your searching in only the CENTRAL database.

To learn more about CENTRAL, ask an MSK Librarian for an in-depth tutorial.