Once you have designed your PICO question, use the chart below to help brainstorm search terms. You'll use these terms in Module 2: Acquiring when you begin to search the literature.
This module covers formulating a well-built research question using the PICO method of asking questions in a clinical setting. PICO is a mnemonic that helps you remember what questions to ask in a clinical setting.
These resources have more information on PICO:
| Element of the clinical question |
Patient Describe as accurately as possible the patient or group of patients of interest |
Intervention (or cause, prognosis) What is the main intervention or therapy you wish to consider? |
Comparison (optional) Is there an alternative treatment to compare? |
Outcome What is the clincial outcome, including a time horizon if relevant? |
| Example | In patients with acute bronchitis, | do antibiotics | none | reduce sputum production, cough or days off.? |
| Example | In children with cancer | what are the current treatments | in the management of fever and infection? | |
| Example | Among family-members of patients undergoing diagnostic procedures | does standard care, | listening to tranquil music, or audiotaped comedy routines | make a difference in the reduction of reported anxiety. |
| Example | In patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity, | is bariatric surgery more effective |
than standard medical therapy | at increasing the probability of remission of diabetes? |
