PICO Question Overview
PICO, is a question formula, that allows therapists to develop focused relevant questions addressing clinical decision making and professional scholarly questions.
(Duke University, 2014; Upstate Medical University, 2010)
The following are the four specific PICO question components that will promote developing an answerable clinical questions and developing an efficient search strategy.
Patient or Problem |
Describe the population or clinical problem? |
Intervention, Prognostic Factor, or Exposure |
What is the main intervention, prognostic factor, or exposure being considered? |
Comparison Intervention |
What is the main alternative to compare with the intervention? |
Outcome |
What are you trying to accomplish, improve, or affect? |
(Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, 2014; Duke University, 2014; Occupational Therapy Evidence-Based Practice in Western New York, n.d.; Upstate Medical University, 2010)
For examples of using a PICO question, review the following short tutorials: