What does PICO stand for? Do you have an example of a PICO clinical question?
Answer
PICO is a mnemonic device used in nursing that helps a person remember the components of a well focused clinical question. It is a strategy used in the first step of Evidence Based Practice (EBP) to assess and ask when researching to formulate a searchable clinical question by helping to develop key terms.
|
P |
Patient, Population, or Problem |
What are the most important characteristics of the patient; include the primary problem, disease, or co-existing conditions. |
|
I |
Intervention |
What do you want to do for the patient? Prescribe a drug, order a test or surgery? |
|
C |
Comparison |
Are you trying to decide between two drugs, a drug, no medication/placebo or diagnostic tests? You do not always have to have a specific comparison. |
|
O |
Outcome |
What do you hope to accomplish, measure, improve for the patient? What are you trying to do to affect the patient positively? |
PICO Search Strategy Example Case:
Patient A is receiving chemotherapy and to manage the moderate nausea and vomiting the doctor has given them prochlorperazine. The patient calls the nurse line and tells you that they have read that ginger is just as effective as the prochlorperazine and is wondering if this is true.
|
P |
Patient, Population, or Problem |
Patient receiving chemotherapy and is experiencing moderate nausea and vomiting. |
|
I |
Intervention |
Use of ginger |
|
C |
Comparison |
Effective as prochlorperazine |
|
O |
Outcome |
Reduce the moderate nausea and vomiting |
Formulated Question:
In patients receiving chemotherapy who are experiencing moderate nausea and vomiting is the use of ginger as effective as prochlorperazine in reducing it?
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