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MSAT: Athletic Training

What is PICO?

Practitioners of EBP Research often use the PICO format to help define and answer your research question. 

By organizing a research question using PICO, a researcher can determine specific terms that will help find relevant evidence in professional literature

PICO Searches in CINAHL

The following video, illustrates how to create a PICO question and how to employ that in the CINAHL databases. While the video is specific to CINAHL, many of the concepts can be applied to other databases.

Video courtesy of Purdue University Northwest Library (PNL). 

Framing Different Types of Clinical Questions

Intervention/Therapy

Questions addressing how a clinical issue, illness, or disability is treated.

"In__________________(P), how does__________________(I) compared to_________________(C) affect______________(O)?"

Etiology

Questions that address the causes or origin of disease, the factors which produce or predispose toward a certain disease or disorder.

"Are_________________(P), who have_________________(I) compared with those without_________________(C) at_________________risk for/of_________________(O) over_________________(T)?" 

Diagnosis:

Questions addressing the act or process of identifying or determining the nature and cause of a disease or injury through evaluation.

In_________________(P) are/is_________________(I) compared with_________________(C) more accurate in diagnosing_________________(O)?

Prognosis/Prediction:

Questions addressing the prediction of the course of a disease.

In_________________(P), how does_________________(I) compared to_________________ (C) influence_________________(O)?

Meaning

Questions addressing how one experiences a phenomenon or why we need to approach practice differently.

"How do_________________(P) with_________________(I) perceive_________________(O)?" 


Adapted from: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

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