Discussion Lists

Email lists - how they work

The following information is adapted from the Cochrane Collaboration's useful information on email lists.
Email lists are automated systems which make for efficient sharing of information among people with a common interest. They run on 'listserver' or 'list processor' software, usually on large computers. A single listserver system may serve many different lists.

Each email list has two email addresses: The system address: the address to which you send commands to interact with the system (eg, to subscribe to a list, to leave a list, to get information about a list) The list address: the address to which you send items intended for distribution to the other subscribers.

It is important that you select the correct address for your purpose.

When you first subscribe, your email is handled automatically by the list server system. It looks for the 'subscribe' (or 'join') command and the name of the list you wish to join. It extracts your email address and your name. It adds these to the list of subscribers and sends an email to you to confirm your subscription.

Most listserver systems will respond to a range of commands which allow you to:

set whether you are sent a copy of items which you send to the list. set whether you want all the items from the list each day packaged into a single email (the 'digest' option).
tell the system of a change of email address.
get a listing of all the other subscribers to a list.
tell the system to (temporarily) not send you any items (eg, before you go overseas for 3 months).

To find out what commands a system can handle, send an email to the system address with the word 'help' as the body of the message. The system will send back a list of commands and how to use them.

Guidelines

When replying to an item from the list, choose whether it is more appropriate to reply only to the original sender or to the whole list.
When replying to the list, make the context of your reply clear by including relevant sections of the original message.
Keep your language clear and simple - email lists are international and English is not the first language of all subscribers.
Be friendly, patient and positive. Those struggling to master email, and new subscribers to the list, will appreciate the friendly help of the more experienced. Take advantage of the list to build good working relationships.
If your email address is out of action for some reason and mail from the listserver cannot be delivered, some systems will automatically cancel your subscription. If you suspect this has happened, subscribe again. The system will tell you if you are already on the subscriber list.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Leave the subject blank. (fill in your own name. eg: subscribe hirexcc Jill Citizen) Don't add a signature (position, address, etc) or anything else Leave the subject blank.

Name of List	Joining Instructions	Purpose of List
Adminors	Contact Beverley Shea for more details about the Adminors email list. bshea@lri.ca	The Adminors list was established to encourage efficient communication and support between Coordinators of Collaborative Review Groups.
CCINET	send an email subscribe ccinet to listserv@flinders.edu.au (fill in your own name: eg, subscribe ccinet Jane Smith) Don't fill in the subject or add a signature.	CCINET was established to encourage collaboration among those with an interest in informatics issues within the Cochrane Collaboration. The Cochrane Informatics Group aims to develop and foster the efficient use of informatics within the Collaboration.
CCINFO	To subscribe, send the message subscribe ccinfo firstname lastname to listproc@fhs.mcmaster.ca (fill in your own name: eg, subscribe ccinfo Jane Smith) Don't fill in the subject or add a signature.	CCINFO is the primary email list for the Cochrane Collaboration. It offers an excellent means of keeping members of the Collaboration well informed about the activities and policies of the Collaboration. The list is moderated (all items will be checked for suitability before being distributed to subscribers). This means you can subscribe with the confidence that you will not waste time with irrelevant material. The list will be used for announcements and discussion of matters relevant to the Collaboration as a whole. The goal is that every Cochrane participant with access to email will be a subscriber. The Australasian Cochrane Centre has undertaken to promote CCINFO in the interests of effective communication within the Collaboration.
cebm-members	Contact the listowner Douglas Badenoch	This list is to function as a discussion forum for Members of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. The Centre exists to promote Evidence-Based Medicine by developing educational programmes and by providing support for other Centres in the UK. This is a closed list.
Clib	The Clib list is for those who want to contribute to the ongoing development of Cochrane Library by offering feedback and new suggestions.	send the message subscribe clib to majordomo@cochrane.co.uk Don't fill in the subject or add a signature.
Clinical Trials (MEDTRIAL)	send an e-mail to listserv@galen.imw.lublin.pl with the words in the message body subscribe MEDTRIAL [your name].	Discussion of all aspects of clinical, multicenter, randomized trials in medicine.
Clinical Trial Finder	send the message subscribe ctf to listserv@garcia.com	Medical facilities post detailed descriptions of their clinical trials on this list and help patients seeking to participate. Moderated.
CLINICAL-TRIALS	send an E-mail to LISTSERV@listserv.acor.org with the following message: SUBSCRIBE CLINICAL-TRIALS firstname lastname substitute your own first and last names (as in SUBSCRIBE CLINICAL-TRIALS John Doe). DO NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER TEXT IN THE BODY OF THE MESSAGE (not even a "signature").	This mailing list is devoted to exchanges between professionals who conduct clinical trials about the techniques of performing, managing, and analyzing such trials.
cochrane-skin	send the message subscribe cochrane-skin to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk	The Cochrane Skin Group produces systematic reviews and meta-analyses of treatments for skin diseases. With wide international academic interest, its output impacts research agenda worldwide. Its editorial base is at Nottingham University. Keywords: skin diseases/systematic reviews/meta-analysis
ConsumerNet	send an email to Hilda Bastian ( hilda.bastian@flinders.edu.au) requesting that your email address be added to Consumernet. This is not an automated system.	ConsumerNet serves those involved in the Cochrane Consumer Network. It allows them to easily share information via email.
Consumers	send the message subscribe consumers your-email-address to majordomo@cochrane.co.uk	Consumers serves all those involved in the Cochrane Consumer Network. It allows them to easily share information via email.
critical-appraisal-skills	send the message subscribe critical-appraisal-skills to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk	Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) develops educational interventions to help health service decision makers, & those who influence health service decisions, develop skills in the critical appraisal of evidence about effectiveness, to promote the delivery of evidence-based healthcare.
diet-reviews	send the message subscribe diet-reviews to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk	This discussion list is for researchers collaborating on a DoH/HE Authority project reviewing evidence of effectiveness of methods to promote healthy eating in different population groups. The list provides a forum for sharing ideas and information and rapid communication.
EBMNY	This discussion group is designed to serve as a place where those interested can share experiences,materials and questions about teaching EBM with the aim of supporting and facilitating use of EBM skills in clinical practice.	Send the message Subscribe EBMNY to LISTSERV@HEALTH.nyam.org Leave the subject line blank, and please remember to disable your signature file (if you have established one in your email program).
ebp-wisdom	send an e-mail to n.j.fox@sheffield.ac.uk with no subject and the message line: join ebp-wisdom your e-mail address (for example join ebp-wisdom a.young@virgin.com)	Primary care physicians are encouraged to make their clinical practice evidence-based: to use the findings of research to inform their daily management of patients presenting problems and treatment. This discussion group, part of the WISDOM project on information management and informatics in primary care will take a long hard look critically at how primary care can move from evidence to daily practice.It will challenge the sacred cows of evidence-based medicine, for instance, questioning the applicability of the randomised controlled trial to primary care settings.
Evidence-Based Child Health News Mail List	send an email to: LISTSERV@CGNET.COM with the message SUBSCRIBE CHILDHEALTH-CFOC	The goals of CHILDHEALTH are to provide up to date information about developments in evidence-based child health and to promote the practice of evidence-based medicine related to children. Contact Sharlene Carlson, Email s.carlson@packfound.org for details.
Evidence Based Family Planning Discussion List (EBFP-L)	send an e-mail to: listserv@tpmde-48.tpmde.ac.uk There's no need to enter a subject into the subject field. The main, text body of your message should read: subscribe ebfp-l first_name last_name where first_name and last_name represent your actual name, rather than your email address or user name.	The goals of EBFP are to provide up to date information about developments in evidence-based family planning and to promote the practice of evidence-based care related to fertility regulation, which includes family planning as well as abortion.
evidence-based-health	send the message subscribe evidence-based-health to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk	Evidence based health (EBH) is the application of critical appraisal to problems in health care. This list is for teachers and practitioners in health related fields; to announce meetings and courses; stimulate discussion; air controversies and aid the implementation of EBH.
Evidence-based Health Care in Action Discussion List (MLA-EBHC)	send the message subscribe mla-ebhc to majordomo@mlahq.org. Please leave the subject line blank.	This email discussion list was created for the Evidence-Based Health Care in Action program and should serve as a vehicle to exchange ideas, solve problems, ask questions, and get information. Participation is optional.
EVIMED (Spanish language)	Send the message subscribe EVIMED to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.REDIRIS.ES	Spanish list dedicated to discussion topics concerned with evidence based-health care. Its purpose is to provide an electronic discussion forum in Spanish, for people working or teaching evidence based medicine (EBM). This list facilitates discussion on new ideas, research, education or practice of EBM. Also it aims is to promote information sharing, collaborative working or education, joint problem-solving and mutual support in mains topics related to EBM. Primarily in Spanish and dedicated to the Spanish health care professional community, non-Spanish, specially Latin American, views are also welcome
health-econeval	send the message subscribe health-econeval to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk	This list will facilitate economic evaluation of health services and health care interventions; support the Cochrane Collaboration in using economic information in systematic reviews; share experience and information on cost-effectiveness; produce a regular newsletter. All are welcome.
Health Outcomes and Health Technology Assessment email list	To join this list send the command SUBSCRIBE nzhta to the email SERVER at listproc@stonebow.otago.ac.nz	NZHTA (Health Outcomes and Health Technology Assessment) list provides a forum for discussion and debate on Health Outcomes and Health Technology Assessment. This list aims to: assist the process of information exchange between purchasers, policy makers, practitioners, academics and consumers in health related fields; announce meetings, conferences, courses and web sites of interest to list members; stimulate discussion, promote awareness of health outcomes measurement, health technology assessment, clinical practice guidelines, critical appraisal and other health related resources.
health-services-research	send the message subscribe health-services-research to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk	A list designed to appeal to the Academic research Community in the field of Health Services Research. It will include: Conferences, access to on-line courses and bibliographical updates and references. Included further, will be research reports academic referencing etc.
HIRExcc	send the message subscribe hirexcc to: listserv@flinders.edu.au	HIREx software is used by Cochrane Centres and Cochrane groups to maintain contact details for participants. This list provides an efficient means of asking questions of other users, sharing information and offering relevant, up-to-date support.
Macintosh Users	send the message subscribe ccmacusers email to: majordomo@cochrane.de	CCmacusers is an email list where Mac users in the Collaboration can share information and ask for help with problems.
OZ_CC	send an email to: listserv@flinders.edu.au Leave the subject blank. The message is just the one line: subscribe oz_cc (fill in your own name. eg: subscribe oz_cc Jill Citizen) Don't add a signature (position, address, etc) or anything else	An email-based discussion group called OZ_CC to provide support for those involved in the Cochrane Collaboration in Australasia and South-East Asia. It is a means of asking questions of the group, sharing information and offering relevant, up-to-date support.
practice-development-alliance	send the message subscribe practice-development-alliance to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk	A list for researchers and practitioners involved in measuring, delivering and sharing evidence based practice in healthcare.
quality-consumer-health-info	send the message subscribe quality-consumer-health-info to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk	To provide a forum for stimulating debate about the development and evaluation of good quality evidence based consumer health information; including issues such as: consumer involvement in development; inclusion of evidence; use of various media; and promoting good patient communication.
reviewsupport	send the message subscribe reviewsupport to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk	The aim of this discussion group is to share information when carrying out Cochrane EPOC reviews. Reviewers can post questions and discuss different ways in which they have carried out the specified parts of their review, for example tables, text and references.
RevMan	send an email to majordomo@cochrane.co.uk In the body of the message put: subscribe revman (fill in your email address. eg: subscribe revman fred@abc.edu) Don't fill in the subject or add a signature.	Discussion list for those using RevMan software to prepare Cochrane systematic reviews. Subscribers are kept up to date with new releases, warned of freshly discovered problems, and given the opportunity to seek help from other users and the program developers.
Search	send an email to Molly Harris (mharris@verdict.uthscsa.edu) asking to be added to the Search email list.	The Search list is for those involved in searching for reports of trials in journals, conference proceedings, unpublished papers, etc. It aims to provide a forum for questions and discussion of strategies for those involved in these activities.
Training	send an email to majordomo@cochrane.co.uk In the body of the message put: subscribe training Don't fill in the subject or add a signature.	The Training list is for those already contributing to the Collaboration and who have an interest in developing policy to help support: reviewers in preparing review protocols, finding trials and using RevMan hand searchers in tracking down trials in published journals consumers and clinicians in the use of Cochrane Reviews review group coordinators and editors. Its aim is to provide a forum for sharing information relevant to taking forward the work of a training and support Methods Working Groups.
TSCS	To subscribe, send a request to Karen Robinson (cochrane@umaryland.edu). Please specify in the subject line that the message is a subscription request for the TSCS list and state clearly in the body of the message your full email address and full name. This is not an automated service.	This discussion list has been created for trials search coordinators (TSCs). This list will be a forum for the sharing of questions and ideas, as well as a forum for relevant announcements, such as from the Trials Registers Development Group or the Steering Group.
wisdom-nurse	send the message subscribe wisdom-nurse to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk	A discussion group for nurses in primary and community care who are interested in using networked learning to support evidence based nursing.

A.Booth@sheffield.ac.uk
Last update: 18th December 1998
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