PICO is a mnemonic used to describe the four elements of a good clinical foreground question:
P = Population/Patient/Problem
– How would I describe the problem or a group of patients similar to mine? I = Intervention – What main intervention, prognostic factor or exposure am I considering?
What is a foreground PICO question?
Foreground questions are
generally very detailed questions that can best be answered with the information contained in published research studies
. To formulate a good foreground question, practitioners apply the acronym P-I-C-O also known as “PICO” as a framework to outline the clinical question.
What is a PICO question used for?
PICO is a mnemonic device used in nursing that
helps a person remember the components of a well focused clinical question
. It is a strategy used in the first step of Evidence Based Practice (EBP) to assess and ask when researching to formulate a searchable clinical question by helping to develop key terms.
What is the importance of the PICO question in nursing?
The PICO Formula
Defines the concepts that will be used when
performing a complex literature search
.
Used to ascertain which articles in a search retrieval best address the question
.
Helps determine if studies found address the components of the original question
.
How do you develop a good PICO question?
- Focus the question by identifying the components or concepts in the question.
- Defines the concepts that will be used when performing a complex literature search.
- Used to ascertain which articles in a search retrieval best address the question.
What are the six types of PICO questions?
- P – Population.
- I – Intervention.
- C – Comparison or Control.
- O – Outcome (desired or of interest)
- T- Time period (ie. “Over six month period..” or “In three years…”)
What is PICO question format?
The PICO (population, intervention, control, and outcomes) format [Table 1] is considered a
widely known strategy for framing a “foreground” research question
. [3] Sackett et al. pointed out that breaking the question into four components will facilitate the identification of relevant information.
What is a EBP question?
The first step in the evidence-based practice (EBP) process is
to identify the clinical problem or question for which you are seeking evidence
. Asking a focused and relevant question about your client’s situation will inform your search.
What is an example of a foreground question?
Quite often, foreground questions investigate comparisons,
such as two drugs, or two treatments
. For example: Is Crixivan effective in slowing the rate of functional impairment in a 45 year old male patient with Lou Gehrig’s Disease?
What makes up evidence-based practice?
Evidence-based practice includes
the integration of best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values and circumstances related to patient and client management, practice management, and health policy decision-making
. All three elements are equally important.
What does PICO mean in nursing?
PICO stands for
patient/population, intervention, comparison and outcomes
.
What is the highest quality of evidence?
The systematic review or meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and evidence-based practice guidelines
are considered to be the strongest level of evidence on which to guide practice decisions.
What is PICO tool?
The PICO tool
focuses on the Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes of a
(usually quantitative) article. It is commonly used to identify components of clinical evidence for systematic reviews in evidence based medicine and is endorsed by the Cochrane Collaboration [2].
Who created PICO model?
The concept of PICO was introduced in 1995 by
Richardson et al.
to break down clinical questions into searchable keywords.
Is PICO used for qualitative research?
PICo, SPICE or SPIDER example for qualitative studies
The PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) framework is commonly used to develop focused clinical questions for quantitative systematic reviews. A
modified version
, PICo, can be used for qualitative questions.
Why is the PICO model good?
Empirical studies have shown that the use of PICO frames
improves the specificity and conceptual clarity of clinical problems
,
11
elicits more information during pre-search reference interviews, leads to more complex search strategies, and yields more precise search results.
