This section should discuss the results of the synthesis as well as any limitations of the primary studies included in the review and of the review itself (i.e. language, access, timeframe, study design, etc.). The results should be discussed in the context of current literature, practice and policy.
The aim of this section is to minimise and discuss the main findings – including the strength of the evidence, for each main outcome. It should address the issues arising from the conduct of the review including limitations and issues arising from the findings of the review (such as search limitations). The discussion does not bring in new literature or information that has not been reported in the results section. The discussion does seek to establish a line of argument based on the findings regarding the effectiveness of an intervention, or its impact on the outcomes identified in the protocol. The application and relevance of the findings to relevant stakeholders (e.g. healthcare providers, patients and policy makers) should also be discussed in this section.
Points to consider this section include:
Where any problems identified undertaking the search (perhaps there is little primary research on this topic or perhaps it is poorly indexed by the databases that were searched or perhaps the search was insufficient)?
What limitations were found in the included primary research (e.g. were there inconsistencies or errors in reporting)?
How do the review findings fit with what is currently known on the topic (from issues highlighted in the Background section)?
Are the findings generalizable to other populations of participants/healthcare settings etc?