Writing the Results and Discussion Sections

1
Writing the Results and Discussion Sections

• November 2, 2004

2
Results

• Include number of articles you found, those left
  after the inclusion criteria are applied
• Breakdown by Holms levels
• Breakdown of articles by topic, i.e., articles
  that are OT only, PT only, rote exercise only,
  occupation only, etc. (in narrative and table
  format)

3
Outcomes and General Quality Issues

• A discussion of all articles by each Holms
  level, including major flaws in each group. This
  should be in narrative format.
• Include whether there was significant difference
  or not this should be in both table and in the
  narrative.
• Include also internal validity concerns that are
  seen in most articles in the narrative

4
Methodological Quality Over All Studies(the list
below are samples)

• Sample size
• Randomization
• Randomization procedures
• Blinding
• Instrumentation
• Intervention
• Measure of impairment vs participation
• The methodological quality of the articles should
  be discussed in narrative format and is also
  reflected in your tables on the internal validity
  criteria you have developed.

5
Tables are Included with Results

• Tables are those that look at outcomes of your
  judging criteria
• You can include several tables here if needed

6
Discussion Section
7
Elements of Discussion

• Summary of methodological problems and how they
  affect the quality of the literature overall
• Kind of studies and limits in the study designs
  found
• How limitations of the studies affect your
  ability to indicate whether the evidence supports
  the intervention under study

8
Conclusions

• This is usually the section which includes a
  general statement regarding the outcome of the
  review.
• Includes a section indicating future direction
  the research should take.