Medical subject headings, methods, patient population, interventions, and outcomes variables of these studies were used to identify relevant trials.
The following data will be systematically extracted, by independent pairs of reviewers, under the following main headings: methods, population, data collection, data synthesis (themes and supporting quotations), results, discussion, conclusions and recommendations.
In the past, researchers have used machine learning methods to classify sentences in unstructured abstracts according to the generic headings of Aim, Method, Results and Conclusion [ 41- 43].
All the section headings were mapped to one of four rhetorical roles (Aim, Method, Results, and Conclusion).
A typical heading sequence is "Background, Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusions" but there were many compound headings such as "Method/Results", "Results/Conclusion", "Subjects/Settings" etc.
For a more detailed example, consider the two method headings given below.
Note that the abstracts could also contain sentences under other non PICO headings (e.g. "METHODS", "CONCLUSION"), which we did not include in our extraction process.
Specific items are grouped under headings: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion, reflecting the relevant sections of a published scientific article.
A standard form was designed to structure the data extraction process, using the headings: setting; aims; sample; methods; findings; relevance to review questions; and methodological critique.
For example, when writing in APA format you must organize your paper by headings including the introduction, methods, results, and discussion.
