Appendix G PICO Question Development

What is a PICO Question?

The PICO question format is a consistent “formula” for developing answerable, researchable questions. Writing these questions is deceptively simple. When you write a good one, though, it makes the rest of the process of finding and evaluating evidence much more straightforward. As strange as it sounds, deciding what you are looking for related to your outcome can be one of the hardest parts. When you determine the outcome, it helps you hone the process of searching for evidence. Remember evidence is not just what you want the outcome to be: It is evaluating the evidence supporting or refuting what influences the outcome. If you are interested in getting to the heart of the effect of testing Foley balloons on the rates of UTIs, then you need to find evidence on the pros and cons of testing the balloon.

Question Template for Asking PICO Questions:

P: Population/disease (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, with a certain disorder)

I: Intervention or variable of interest (exposure to a disease, risk behavior, prognostic factor)

C: Comparison (could be a placebo or “business as usual” as in no disease, absence of risk factor, prognostic factor B)

O: Outcome: (risk of disease, accuracy of a diagnosis, rate of occurrence of adverse outcome) [this needs to be something that is quantifiably measured]

For our EBP Posters, we will be using an intervention/therapy question. The intervention/therapy must be something an RN can do independently to/for a patient without a physician’s order. The outcome must be measurable.

For an intervention/therapy:

In _______(P), what is the effect of _______(I) on ______(O) compared with _______(C)?

OR

In _______ (P), does ________ (I) compared to ________ (C) decrease/increase/improve/worsen _____________ (O)?

Based on Melnyk B., & Fineout-Overholt E. (2010). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Examples of intervention Evidence-Based PICO Questions

• In high school children (P), what is the effect of a nurse-led presentation on bullying (I) on a reduction in reported incidences of bullying (O) compared with no intervention (C)?
• For adolescents with type II diabetes (P) do RN telehealth consultations (I) compared to in-person consultations (C) improve blood sugar control (O)?
• In adult patients with total hip replacements (P), what is the effect of adjunctive aerobic stretching (I) compared to pain medications alone (C) in controlling postoperative pain (O) during the perioperative and recovery time?

For assignment, please fill in your PICO, and then list your clinical question.

P:

I:

C:

O:

Clinical Question: