A clinical question needs to be directly relevant to the patient or problem at hand and phrased in such a way as to facilitate the search for an answer. PICO makes this process easier. It is a mnemonic for the important parts of a well-built clinical question. It also helps formulate the search strategy by identifying the key concepts that need to be in the article that can answer the question.
PICO or PICOTT
| Patient/Population/Problem |
Intervention |
Comparison |
Outcomes |
Type of Question |
Type of Study |
| What are the most important characteristics? |
What will you assess |
What are/is the main alternative? |
What are you trying to solve, improve, measure, affect? |
|
|
| Demographic, age, sex, primary issue, health status |
Diagnostic test, medication, procedure
|
Current treatment, medication, nothing, death |
Accurate diagnosis, relieve or improve symptoms, maintain |
Prevention? Diagnosis? |
Systematic Review
Clinical Trial?
|
