nursing research question pico examples

PICOT Question Examples for Nursing Research

Are you looking for examples of nursing PICOT questions to inspire your creativity as you research for a perfect nursing topic for your paper? You came to the right place.

We have a comprehensive guide on how to write a good PICO Question for your case study, research paper, white paper, term paper, project, or capstone paper. Therefore, we will not go into the details in this post. A good PICOT question possesses the following qualities:

• A clinical-based question addresses the nursing research areas or topics.
• It is specific, concise, and clear.
• Patient, problem, or population.
• Intervention.
• Comparison.
• Includes medical, clinical, and nursing terms where necessary.
• It is not ambiguous.

For more information, read our comprehensive PICOT Question guide . You can use these questions to inspire your PICOT choice for your evidence-based papers , reports, or nursing research papers.

If you are stuck with assignments and want some help, we offer the best nursing research assignment help online. We have expert nursing writers who can formulate an excellent clinical, research, and PICOT question for you. They can also write dissertations, white papers, theses, reports, and capstones. Do not hesitate to place an order.

List of 180 Plus Best PICOT Questions to Get Inspiration From

Here is a list of nursing PICO questions to inspire you when developing yours. Some PICOT questions might be suitable for BSN and MSN but not DNP. If you are writing a change project for your DNP, try to focus on PICOT questions that align to process changes. 

• Among healthy newborn infants in low- and middle-income countries (P), does early skin-to-skin contact of the baby with the mother in the first hour of life (I) compared with drying and wrapping (C) have an impact on neonatal mortality, hypothermia or initiation/exclusivity/ duration of breastfeeding (O)?
• Is it necessary to test blood glucose levels 4 times daily for a patient suffering from Type 1 diabetes?
• Does raising the head of the bed of a mechanically ventilated patient reduce the chances of pneumonia?
• Does music therapy is an effective mode of PACU pain management for patients who are slowly coming out from their anesthesia?
• For all neonates (P), should vitamin K prophylaxis (I) be given for the prevention of vitamin K deficiency bleeding (O)?
• For young infants (0-2 months) with suspected sepsis managed in health facilities (P), should third generation cephalosporin monotherapy (I) replace currently recommended ampicillin-gentamicin combination (C) as first line empiric treatment for preventing death and sequelae (O)?
• In low-birth-weight/pre-term neonates in health facilities (P), is skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth (I) more effective than conventional care (C) in preventing hypothermia (O)?
• In children aged 2–59 months (P), what is the most effective antibiotic therapy (I, C) for severe pneumonia (O)?
• Is skin-to-skin contact of the infant with the mother a more assured way of ensuring neonatal mortality compared to drying and wrapping?
• Are oral contraceptives effective in stopping pregnancy for women above 30 years?
• Is spironolactone a better drug for reducing the blood pressure of teenagers when compared to clonidine?
• What is the usefulness of an LP/spinal tap after the beginning of antivirals for a pediatric population suffering from fever?
• In children aged 2–59 months in developing countries (P), which parenteral antibiotic or combination of antibiotics (I), at what dose and duration, is effective for the treatment of suspected bacterial meningitis in hospital in reducing mortality and sequelae (O)?
• Does the habit of washing hands third-generation workers decrease the events of infections in hospitals?
• Is the intake of zinc pills more effective than Vitamin C for preventing cold during winter for middle-aged women?
• In children with acute severe malnutrition (P), are antibiotics (I) effective in preventing death and sequelae (O)?
• Among, children with lower respiratory tract infection (P), what are the best cut off oxygen saturation levels (D), at different altitudes that will determine hypoxaemia requiring oxygen therapy (O)?
• In infants and children in low-resource settings (P), what is the most appropriate method (D) of detecting hypoxaemia in hospitals (O)?
• In children with shock (P), what is the most appropriate choice of intravenous fluid therapy (I) to prevent death and sequelae (O)?
• In fully conscious children with hypoglycaemia (P) what is the effectiveness of administering sublingual sugar (I)?
• Is using toys as distractions during giving needle vaccinations to toddlers an effective pain response management?
• What is the result of a higher amount of potassium intake among children with low blood pressure?
• Is cup feeding an infant better than feeding through tubes in a NICU setup?
• Does the intervention of flushing the heroin via lines a more effective way of treating patients with CVLs/PICCs?
• Is the use of intravenous fluid intervention a better remedy for infants under fatal conditions?
• Do bedside shift reports help in the overall patient care for nurses?
• Is home visitation a better way of dealing with teen pregnancy when compared to regular school visits in rural areas?
• Is fentanyl more effective than morphine in dealing with the pain of adults over the age of 50 years?
• What are the health outcomes of having a high amount of potassium for adults over the age of 21 years?
• Does the use of continuous feed during emesis a more effective way of intervention when compared to the process of stopping the feed for a short period?
• Does controlling the amount of sublingual sugar help completely conscious children suffering from hypoglycemia?
• Is the lithotomy position an ideal position for giving birth to women in labor?
• Does group therapy help patients with schizophrenia to help their conversational skills?
• What are the probable after-effects, in the form of bruises and other injuries, of heparin injection therapy for COPD patients?
• Would standardized discharge medication education improve home medication adherence in adults age 65 and older compared to-standardized discharge medication education?
• In patients with psychiatric disorders is medication non-compliance a greater risk compared with adults experiencing chronic illness?
• Is the use of beta-blockers for lowering blood pressure for adult men over the age of 70 years effective?
• Nasal swab or nasal aspirate? Which one is more effective for children suffering from seasonal flu?
• What are the effects of adding beta-blockers for lowering blood pressure for adult men over the age of 70 years?
• Does the process of stopping lipids for 4 hours an effective measure of obtaining the desired TG level for patients who are about to receive TPN?
• Is medical intervention a proper way of dealing with childhood obesity among school-going children?
• Can nurse-led presentations of mental health associated with bullying help in combating such tendencies in public schools?
• What are the impacts of managing Prevacid before a pH probe study for pediatric patients with GERD?
• What are the measurable effects of extending ICU stays and antibiotic consumption amongst children with sepsis?
• Does the use of infrared skin thermometers justified when compared to the tympanic thermometers for a pediatric population?
• What are the roles of a pre-surgery cardiac nurse in order to prevent depression among patients awaiting cardiac operation?
• Does the increase in the habit of smoking marijuana among Dutch students increase the chances of depression?
• What is the direct connection between VAP and NGT?
• Is psychological intervention for people suffering from dementia a more effective measure than giving them a placebo?
• Are alarm sensors effective in preventing accidents in hospitals for patients over the age of 65 years?
• Is the sudden change of temperature harmful for patients who are neurologically devastated?
• Is it necessary to test blood glucose levels, 4 times a day, for a patient suffering from Type 1 diabetes?
• Is the use of MDI derive better results, when compared to regular nebulizers, for pediatric patients suffering from asthma?
• What are the effects of IVF bolus in controlling the amount of Magnesium Sulfate for patients who are suffering from asthma?
• Is the process of stopping lipids for 4 hours an effective measure of obtaining the desired TG level for patients who are about to receive TPN?
• What are the standards of vital signs for a pediatric population?
• Is daily blood pressure monitoring help in addressing the triggers of hypertension among males over 65 years?
• Does receiving phone tweets lower blood sugar levels for people suffering from Type 1 diabetes?
• Are males over the age of 30 years who have smoked for more than 1 year exposed to a greater risk of esophageal cancer when compared to the same age group of men who have no history of smoking?
• Does the increase in the use of mosquito nets in Uganda help in the reduction of malaria among the infants?
• Does the increase in the intake of oral contraceptives increase the chances of breast cancer among 20-30 years old women in the UK?
• In postpartum women with postnatal depression (P), does group therapy (I) compared to individual therapy (C) improve maternal-infant bonding (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In patients with chronic pain (P), does mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (I) compared to pharmacotherapy (C) improve quality of life (O) after 12 weeks (T)?
• In patients with type 2 diabetes (P), does continuous glucose monitoring (I) compared to self-monitoring of blood glucose (C) improve glycemic control (O) over a period of three months (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does a vegetarian diet (I) compared to a regular diet (C) slow the decline in renal function (O) after one year (T)?
• In pediatric patients with acute otitis media (P), does delayed antibiotic prescribing (I) compared to immediate antibiotic prescribing (C) reduce antibiotic use (O) within one week (T)?
• In older adults with dementia (P), does pet therapy (I) compared to no pet therapy (C) decrease agitation (O) after three months (T)?
• In patients with chronic heart failure (P), does telemonitoring of vital signs (I) compared to standard care (C) reduce hospital readmissions (O) within six months (T)?
• In patients with anxiety disorders (P), does exposure therapy (I) compared to cognitive therapy (C) reduce anxiety symptoms (O) after 12 weeks (T)?
• In postpartum women with breastfeeding difficulties (P), does lactation consultation (I) compared to standard care (C) increase breastfeeding rates (O) after four weeks (T)?
• In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), does long-acting bronchodilator therapy (I) compared to short-acting bronchodilator therapy (C) improve lung function (O) after three months (T)?
• In patients with major depressive disorder (P), does bright light therapy (I) compared to placebo (C) reduce depressive symptoms (O) after six weeks (T)?
• In patients with diabetes (P), does telemedicine-based diabetes management (I) compared to standard care (C) improve glycemic control (O) over a period of six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does a low-phosphorus diet (I) compared to a regular diet (C) decrease serum phosphate levels (O) after one year (T)?
• In pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis (P), does probiotic supplementation (I) compared to placebo (C) reduce the duration of diarrhea (O) within 48 hours (T)?
• In patients with chronic pain (P), does acupuncture (I) compared to sham acupuncture (C) reduce pain intensity (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In older adults at risk of falls (P), does a home modification program (I) compared to no intervention (C) reduce the incidence of falls (O) over a period of six months (T)?
• In patients with schizophrenia (P), does cognitive remediation therapy (I) compared to standard therapy (C) improve cognitive function (O) after one year (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (I) compared to angiotensin receptor blockers (C) slow the progression of renal disease (O) over a period of two years (T)?
• In postoperative patients (P), does chlorhexidine bathing (I) compared to regular bathing (C) reduce the risk of surgical site infections (O) within 30 days (T)?
• In patients with type 2 diabetes (P), does a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (I) compared to a low-fat diet (C) improve glycemic control (O) over a period of six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), does pulmonary rehabilitation combined with telemonitoring (I) compared to standard pulmonary rehabilitation (C) improve exercise capacity (O) after three months (T)?
• In patients with heart failure (P), does a nurse-led heart failure clinic (I) compared to usual care (C) improve self-care behaviors (O) after six months (T)?
• In postpartum women with postnatal depression (P), does telephone-based counseling (I) compared to face-to-face counseling (C) reduce depressive symptoms (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In patients with chronic migraine (P), does prophylactic treatment with topiramate (I) compared to amitriptyline (C) reduce the frequency of migraines (O) after three months (T)?
• In pediatric patients with acute otitis media (P), does watchful waiting (I) compared to immediate antibiotic treatment (C) reduce the duration of symptoms (O) within seven days (T)?
• In older adults with dementia (P), does reminiscence therapy (I) compared to usual care (C) improve cognitive function (O) after three months (T)?
• In patients with chronic heart failure (P), does telemonitoring combined with a medication reminder system (I) compared to telemonitoring alone (C) reduce hospital readmissions (O) within six months (T)?
• In patients with asthma (P), does self-management education (I) compared to standard care (C) reduce asthma exacerbations (O) over a period of one year (T)?
• In postoperative patients (P), does the use of wound dressings with antimicrobial properties (I) compared to standard dressings (C) reduce the incidence of surgical site infections (O) within 30 days (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does mindfulness-based stress reduction (I) compared to usual care (C) improve psychological well-being (O) over a period of three months (T)?
• In adult patients with chronic pain (P), does biofeedback therapy (I) compared to relaxation techniques (C) reduce pain intensity (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In patients with type 2 diabetes (P), does a low-glycemic index diet (I) compared to a high-glycemic-index diet (C) improve glycemic control (O) over a period of six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), does regular physical activity (I) compared to no physical activity (C) improve health-related quality of life (O) after three months (T)?
• In patients with major depressive disorder (P), does mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (I) compared to antidepressant medication (C) reduce depressive symptoms (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In postpartum women (P), does perineal warm compresses (I) compared to standard perineal care (C) reduce perineal pain (O) after vaginal delivery (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does a low-protein, low-phosphorus diet (I) compared to a low-protein diet alone (C) slow the progression of renal disease(O) after two years (T)?
• In pediatric patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (P), does mindfulness-based interventions (I) compared to medication alone (C) improve attention and behavior (O) after six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic pain (P), does cognitive-behavioral therapy (I) compared to physical therapy (C) reduce pain interference (O) after 12 weeks (T)?
• In elderly patients with osteoarthritis (P), does aquatic exercise (I) compared to land-based exercise (C) improve joint flexibility and reduce pain (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In patients with multiple sclerosis (P), does high-intensity interval training (I) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (C) improve physical function (O) after three months (T)?
• In postoperative patients (P), does preoperative carbohydrate loading (I) compared to fasting (C) reduce postoperative insulin resistance (O) within 24 hours (T)?
• In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), does home-based tele-rehabilitation (I) compared to center-based rehabilitation (C) improve exercise capacity (O) after six months (T)?
• In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (P), does tai chi (I) compared to pharmacological treatment (C) reduce joint pain and improve physical function (O) after six months (T)?
• In postpartum women with postpartum hemorrhage (P), does early administration of tranexamic acid (I) compared to standard administration (C) reduce blood loss (O) within two hours (T)?
• In patients with hypertension (P), does mindfulness meditation (I) compared to relaxation techniques (C) reduce blood pressure (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In elderly patients with hip fractures (P), does multidisciplinary geriatric care (I) compared to standard care (C) improve functional outcomes (O) after three months (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does aerobic exercise (I) compared to resistance exercise (C) improve renal function (O) after six months (T)?
• In patients with major depressive disorder (P), does add-on treatment with omega-3 fatty acids (I) compared to placebo (C) reduce depressive symptoms (O) after 12 weeks (T)?
• In postoperative patients (P), does preoperative education using multimedia materials (I) compared to standard education (C) improve patient satisfaction (O) after surgery (T)?
• In patients with type 2 diabetes (P), does a plant-based diet (I) compared to a standard diet (C) improve glycemic control (O) after three months (T)?
• In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), does high-flow oxygen therapy (I) compared to standard oxygen therapy (C) improve exercise tolerance (O) after three months (T)?
• In patients with heart failure (P), does nurse-led telephone follow-up (I) compared to standard care (C) reduce hospital readmissions (O) within six months (T)?
• In postpartum women with postnatal depression (P), does online cognitive-behavioral therapy (I) compared to face-to-face therapy (C) reduce depressive symptoms (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In patients with chronic migraine (P), does mindfulness-based stress reduction (I) compared to medication alone (C) reduce the frequency and severity of migraines (O) after three months (T)?
• In older adults with delirium (P), does structured music intervention (I) compared to standard care (C) reduce the duration of delirium episodes (O) during hospitalization (T)?
• In patients with chronic low back pain (P), does yoga (I) compared to physical therapy (C) reduce pain intensity (O) after six weeks (T)?
• In pediatric patients with acute otitis media (P), does watchful waiting with pain management (I) compared to immediate antibiotic treatment (C) reduce the need for antibiotics (O) within one week (T)?
• In patients with schizophrenia (P), does family psychoeducation (I) compared to standard treatment (C) improve medication adherence (O) over a period of six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does a low-phosphorus diet (I) compared to a regular diet (C) slow the progression of renal disease (O) after one year (T)?
• In postoperative patients (P), does wound irrigation with saline solution (I) compared to povidone-iodine solution (C) reduce the incidence of surgical site infections (O) within 30 days (T)?
• In patients with type 1 diabetes (P), does continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (I) compared to multiple daily injections (C) improve glycemic control (O) over a period of six months (T)?
• In postoperative patients (P), does the use of prophylactic antibiotics (I) compared to no antibiotics (C) reduce the incidence of surgical site infections (O) within 30 days (T)?
• In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), does smoking cessation counseling (I) compared to no counseling (C) decrease the frequency of exacerbations (O) over a period of six months (T)?
• In patients with diabetes (P), does a multidisciplinary team approach (I) compared to standard care (C) improve self-management behaviors (O) over a period of one year (T)?
• In pregnant women with gestational hypertension (P), does bed rest (I) compared to regular activity (C) reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia (O) before delivery (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (I) compared to placebo (C) slow the progression of renal disease (O) over a period of two years (T)?
• In older adults with hip fractures (P), does early surgical intervention (I) compared to delayed surgery (C) improve functional outcomes (O) after six months (T)?
• In patients with major depressive disorder (P), does exercise (I) compared to antidepressant medication (C) reduce depressive symptoms (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In children with autism spectrum disorder (P), does applied behavior analysis (I) compared to standard therapy (C) improve social communication skills (O) over a period of one year (T)?
• In postoperative patients (P), does the use of incentive spirometry (I) compared to no spirometry (C) decrease the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (O) within seven days (T)?
• In patients with hypertension (P), does a combination of diet modification and exercise (I) compared to medication alone (C) lower blood pressure (O) after six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), does home oxygen therapy (I) compared to no oxygen therapy (C) improve exercise capacity (O) after threemonths (T)?
• In patients with heart failure (P), does a multidisciplinary heart failure management program (I) compared to standard care (C) reduce hospital readmissions (O) within six months (T)?
• In postpartum women with postnatal depression (P), does mindfulness meditation (I) compared to relaxation techniques (C) reduce depressive symptoms (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does a low-sodium diet (I) compared to a regular diet (C) lower blood pressure (O) after six months (T)?
• In pediatric patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (P), does neurofeedback training (I) compared to medication (C) improve attention and behavior (O) after six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic pain (P), does transcranial direct current stimulation (I) compared to sham stimulation (C) reduce pain intensity (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In older adults with osteoporosis (P), does a structured exercise program (I) compared to no exercise (C) improve bone mineral density (O) after six months (T)?
• In patients with type 2 diabetes (P), does a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet (I) compared to a standard diet (C) improve glycemic control (O) over a period of six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), does mindfulness-based stress reduction (I) compared to usual care (C) improve dyspnea symptoms (O) after three months (T)?
• In postpartum women with postnatal depression (P), does online peer support (I) compared to individual therapy (C) reduce depressive symptoms (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does resistance training (I) compared to aerobic training (C) improve muscle strength (O) after six months (T)?
• In pediatric patients with asthma (P), does a written asthma action plan (I) compared to verbal instructions (C) reduce emergency department visits (O) within six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic pain (P), does yoga (I) compared to pharmacological treatment (C) reduce pain interference (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In older adults at risk of falls (P), does a multifactorial falls prevention program (I) compared to no intervention (C) reduce the rate of falls (O) over a period of six months (T)?
• In patients with schizophrenia (P), does cognitive-behavioral therapy (I) compared to medication alone (C) reduce positive symptom severity (O) after six months (T)?
• In postpartum women with breastfeeding difficulties (P), does breast massage (I) compared to no massage (C) improve milk flow (O) after four weeks (T)?
• In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), does long-term oxygen therapy (I) compared to short-term oxygen therapy (C) improve survival rates (O) after one year (T)?
• In patients with major depressive disorder (P), does repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (I) compared to sham treatment (C) reduce depressive symptoms (O) after six weeks (T)?
• In patients with diabetes (P), does a digital health app (I) compared to standard care (C) improve medication adherence (O) over a period of six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), does a low-potassium diet (I) compared to a regular diet (C) lower serum potassium levels (O) after one year (T)?
• In pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis (P), does oral rehydration solution (I) compared to intravenous fluid therapy (C) reduce hospital admissions (O) within 48 hours (T)?
• In patients with chronic pain (P), does hypnotherapy (I) compared to no hypnotherapy (C) reduce pain intensity (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• In older adults at risk of falls (P), does a tai chi program (I) compared to no exercise program (C) improve balance and stability (O) after six months (T)?
• In patients with chronic heart failure (P), does a home-based self-care intervention (I) compared to standard care (C) reduce hospital readmissions (O) within six months (T)?
• In patients with anxiety disorders (P), does acceptance and commitment therapy (I) compared to cognitive-behavioral therapy (C) reduce anxiety symptoms (O) after 12 weeks (T)?
• In postpartum women with breastfeeding difficulties (P), does the use of nipple shields (I) compared to no nipple shields (C) improve breastfeeding success (O) after four weeks (T)?
• In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), does a comprehensive self-management program (I) compared to usual care (C) improve health-related quality of life (O) after three months (T)?
• In patients with major depressive disorder (P), does internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (I) compared to face-to-face therapy (C) reduce depressive symptoms (O) after eight weeks (T)?
• Does the increase in the habit of smoking marijuana among Dutch students increase the likelihood of depression?
• Does the use of pain relief medication during surgery provide more effective pain reduction compared to the same medication given post-surgery?
• Does the increase in the intake of oral contraceptives increase the risk of breast cancer among women aged 20-30 in the UK?
• Does the habit of washing hands among healthcare workers decrease the rate of infections in hospitals?
• Does the use of modern syringes help in reducing needle injuries among healthcare workers in America?
• Does encouraging male work colleagues to talk about sexual harassment decrease the rate of depression in the workplace?
• Does bullying in boarding schools in Scotland increase the likelihood of domestic violence within a 20-year timeframe?
• Does breastfeeding among toddlers in urban United States decrease their chances of obesity as pre-schoolers?
• Does the increase in the intake of antidepressants among urban women aged 30 years and older affect their maternal health?
• Does forming work groups to discuss domestic violence among the rural population of the United States reduce stress and depression among women?
• Does the increased use of mosquito nets in Uganda help in reducing malaria cases among infants?
• Can colon cancer be more effectively detected when colonoscopy is supported by an occult blood test compared to colonoscopy alone?
• Does regular usage of low-dose aspirin effectively reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke for women above the age of 80 years?
• Is yoga an effective medical therapy for reducing lymphedema in patients recovering from neck cancer?
• Does daily blood pressure monitoring help in addressing the triggers of hypertension among males over 65 years?
• Does a regular 30-minute exercise regimen effectively reduce the risk of heart disease in adults over 65 years?
• Does prolonged exposure to chemotherapy increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases among teenagers suffering from cancer?
• Does breastfeeding among toddlers in the urban United States decrease their chances of obesity as pre-schoolers?
• Are first-time mothers giving birth to premature babies more prone to postpartum depression compared to second or third-time mothers in the same condition?
• For women under the age of 50 years, is a yearly mammogram more effective in preventing breast cancer compared to a mammogram done every 3 years?
• After being diagnosed with blood sugar levels, is a four-times-a-day blood glucose monitoring process more effective in controlling the onset of Type 1 diabetes?

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• Forming Focused Questions with PICO
• PICO Examples

Forming Focused Questions with PICO: PICO Examples

Created by health science librarians.

• PICO's Limitations

Practice Your Skills

Cancer care and peer support, cultural awareness and nursing care, labor & delivery, infection control, nurse educator, nurse practitioner, public health, school nursing.

• Other Question Frameworks

Practice writing out PICO components and then forming a focused question about one of the case studies below. Choose one or several that interest you.

You have read that peer support interventions help individuals and families affected by cancer across the care continuum from prevention through survivorship and end-of-life care. You wonder about the characteristics of peer support programs and how peer support programs have been used to reduce disparities and barriers to care.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for cancer care.

Nurses in oncology units interact frequently with adults with cancer who do not speak English as their primary language. You are curious whether cultural awareness among nurses improves these patients’ care and participation in the decision-making process.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for nursing care.

You’re a new nurse on a labor and delivery unit. You’ve noticed that most women give birth in the lithotomy position at the encouragement of their doctors. However, you’re sure you heard in nursing school that other positions are less likely to lead to deliveries with forceps or a vacuum.. or did you? You want to find some literature to back up your claim.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for labor and delivery.

You work in the Big City Hospital ICU. Your mechanically ventilated patients sometimes contract nosocomial pneumonia, which leads to costly complications. You want to know if raising the head of the bed lowers the chance of the patient contracting pneumonia compared to letting the patient lie flat on their back.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for the ICU..

In the past few years, your hospital has installed antibacterial foam dispensers on all the nursing units. You’ve had nurses asking you if the foam is just as effective as washing their hands with water and soap.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for infection control.

Shift change on your busy med-surg unit can be frustrating for you and your coworkers. Report at the nursing station takes up to 30 minutes, by the end of which you’re anxious to see your patients. You read something in a recent ANA newsletter about other hospitals switching to a bedside shift report, and you want to find out if staff liked that style of shift change better.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario in med-surg.

Open to check your pico analysis of the scenario in the nicu..

It’s the last semester of your BSN students’ time in school and they’re excited.. and anxious! They’ve been asking you if they should take the NCLEX right after they graduate or wait for a while after graduation so they can relax and study.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for nurse educators.

It’s winter at your family practice, and you have a lot of patients coming in with runny noses and general malaise. Brenda, a 35 year old working mother in for a checkup states, "I’m so busy between work and home that I definitely don’t have time to get sick! Can those vitamin C or zinc pills prevent colds?"

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for nurse practitioners.

The main concern for most of your patients coming out of anesthesia in your PACU is pain. You want to explore nursing interventions you can use on top of medication administration to decrease pain. One coworker mentions trying to make the PACU feel less clinical by playing soft music to relax patients.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for PACU.

You work in a pediatrician’s office and give patients their routine vaccinations. The younger children are often fearful of needles, and some of the staff use toys to distract the patients. You want to know if this technique actually has an effect on the children's pain response.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for pediatrics.

You work on an inpatient psychiatric unit. One of your patients with chronic schizophrenia, Joe, normally mumbles to himself, but will occasionally speak to others when residents play games together. Noticing this, you say to a coworker that maybe social skills group training sessions would bring out Joe’s conversational skills. Your coworker shakes her head and says "I don’t think so. Joe is in and out of this hospital, he’s a lost cause."

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for psychiatry.

You coordinate health education programs and have been holding seminars for teenagers about STI prevention. You’ve been found that they’re hesitant to open up to you during classes to ask you questions. You’re wondering if recruiting peer educators closer to their age will encourage them to actively participate and get more satisfaction out of the classes.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for public health.

On your pulmonary unit, many of your COPD patients receive injections of heparin to prevent pulmonary emboli, and patients find the bruises associated with heparin injections unsightly. You’ve had nursing students shadowing you lately, so you’ve been particularly concerned with injection technique. You want to find out if the duration of injection has any effect on the extent of bruising.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for pulmonary.

You’re a school nurse and one aspect of your job is counseling pregnant teens with the aim of enabling them to complete high school. You’ve even been conducting home visits on top of your normal in-school meetings as part of their preparation-for-motherhood counseling. You want sources to backup the effectiveness of these home visits.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for school nursing.

A diabetic patient from a nursing home has recently been admitted with a stage III pressure ulcers on his heels. The unit nurses have called you in for a wound consult. You have to choose between standard moist wound therapy and using a wound vac.

Open to check your PICO analysis of the scenario for wound care.

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Background vs. Foreground

Pico examples, asking different types of questions, pico resources & worksheet.

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Evidence based practice requires that clinicians make use of the best research they can find to help them in decision-making. To find that research efficiently, the clinician must ask a well-designed clinical question with all the elements that will lead to finding relevant research literature.

The first step in doing this is to determine the type of question: background or foreground. The type of question helps to determine the resource to access to answer the question.

Background questions ask for general knowledge about a condition or thing.

• Broaden the scope - "The Forest"
• Provides basics for a a greater grasp of concepts
• Typically found in textbooks, guidelines, point-of-care monographs, encyclopedias, or topic reviews
• A question root (who, what, when, etc.) with a verb
• A disorder, test, treatment, or other aspect of healthcare

The background question is usually asked because of the need for basic information. It is not normally asked because of a need to make a clinical decision about a specific patient.

Foreground questions ask for specific knowledge to inform clinical decisions or actions.

• Focused in scope - "The Trees"
• Requires a grasp of basic concepts to fully comprehend
• Typically found in journals and conference proceedings
• Have 3 or 4 essential components (see PICO below)

PICO is a mnemonic used to describe the four elements of a good clinical foreground question:

P = Population/Patient/Problem - How would I describe the problem or a group of patients similar to mine?

I = Intervention - What main intervention, prognostic factor or exposure am I considering?

C = Comparison - Is there an alternative to compare with the intervention?

O = Outcome - What do I hope to accomplish, measure, improve or affect?

 Fill in the blanks with information from your clinical scenario: THERAPY In_______________, what is the effect of ________________on _______________ compared with _________________?

PREVENTION For ___________ does the use of _________________ reduce the future risk of ____________ compared with ______________? DIAGNOSIS OR DIAGNOSTIC TEST Are (Is) ________________ more accurate in diagnosing _______________ compared with ____________? PROGNOSIS Does ____________ influence ______________ in patients who have _____________? ETIOLOGY Are ______________ who have _______________ at ______________ risk for/of ____________ compared with _____________ with/without______________? MEANING How do _______________ diagnosed with _______________ perceive __________________? Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice . Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

• PubMed PICO Tool
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Nursing Research

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Asking a PICO Question

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Clinical and nursing practice questions can be broken down into the PICO(T) format, which breaks a question apart into searchable parts:

Population (P)  – what individual or group are we interested in studying? Intervention (I)  – what is the action (intervention, treatment, etc.) we are considering taking? Comparison (C)  – to what other action (intervention, treatment, etc.) are we comparing the considered action? Outcome (O)  – what do we anticipate as the outcome? Time (T)  – how long will it take to reach the outcome?

• Note:  not all PICO(T) questions require the "TIME" component 

Potential PICO(T) Question Formats

In__ [Population] __, how does __ [Intervention] __ compared to __ [Comparison] __ affect __ [Outcome] __ within __ [Time] __ ?

In__ [Population] __, how does __ [Intervention] __ compared to __ [Comparison] __ influence/predict __ [Outcome] __ over __ [Time] __ ?

In__ [Population] __, are/is __ [Intervention] __ compared with __ [Comparison] __ more accurate in diagnosing __ [Outcome] __?

Are __ [Population] __, who have  __ [Intervention] __ compared with those without __ [Comparison] __ at risk for/of  __ [Outcome] __ over __ [Time] __ ?  

Sample PICO Question

Scenario:   A committee decides to conduct a case study to determine whether postoperative gum chewing for abdominal surgery patients can prevent postoperative ileus (lack of intestinal movement).

• P – Patients recovering from abdominal surgery
• I –  Gum chewing
• C – Not chewing gum
• O – Impacts post-operative ileus

PICO Question:  “In patients recovering from abdominal surgery, is there evidence that suggests gum-chewing postoperatively, compared to not chewing gum, impacts postoperative ileus?”

Levels of evidence are assigned to studies based on the methodological quality of their design, validity, and applicability to patient care. The combination of these attributes gives the level of evidence for a study.  In nursing, the system for assigning levels of evidence is often from Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt's 2011 book,  Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice . 

Depending on their purpose, design, and mode of reporting or dissemination, health-related research studies can be ranked according to the strength of evidence they provide, with the sources of strongest evidence at the top, and the weakest at the bottom:

Secondary Sources: studies of studies

A secondary source summarizes or quotes content from primary sources.

Systematic Review

• Identifies, appraises, and synthesizes all empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria
• Methods section outlines a detailed search strategy used to identify and appraise articles
• May include a meta-analysis, but not required (see Meta-Analysis below)

Meta-Analysis

• A subset of systematic reviews: uses quantitative methods to combine the results of independent studies and synthesize the summaries and conclusions
• Methods section outlines a detailed search strategy used to identify and appraise articles; often surveys clinical trials
• Can be conducted independently, or as a part of a systematic review
• All meta-analyses are systematic reviews, but not all systematic reviews are meta-analyses

Evidence-Based Guideline

• Provides a brief summary of evidence for a general clinical question or condition
• Produced by professional health care organizations, practices, and agencies that systematically gather, appraise, and combine the evidence

Meta-Synthesis or Qualitative Synthesis (Systematic Review of Qualitative or Descriptive Studies)

• a systematic review of qualitative or descriptive studies, low strength level

Primary Sources: original studies

Primary sources are written by the person who originated or is responsible tor generating the ideas published. 

Randomized Controlled Trial

• Experiment where individuals are randomly assigned to an experimental or control group to test the value or efficiency of a treatment or intervention

Non-Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial (Quasi-Experimental)

• Involves one or more test treatments, at least one control treatment, specified outcome measures for evaluating the studied intervention, and a bias-free method for assigning patients to the test treatment

Case-Control or Case-Comparison Study (Non-Experimental)

• Individuals with a particular condition or disease (the cases) are selected for comparison with individuals who do not have the condition or disease (the controls)

Cohort Study (Non-Experimental)

• Identifies subsets (cohorts) of a defined population
• Cohorts may or may not be exposed to factors that researchers hypothesize will influence the probability that participants will have a particular disease or other outcome
• Researchers follow cohorts in an attempt to determine distinguishing characteristics
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Evidence Based Nursing Practice

• PICO(T) and Clinical Questions
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PICO Templates

For an intervention/therapy:

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

For etiology:

Are ____ (P) who have _______ (I) at ___ (increased/decreased) risk for/of_______ (O) compared with ______ (P) with/without ______ (C) over _____ (T)?

Diagnosis or diagnostic test:

Are (is) _________ (I) more accurate in diagnosing ________ (P) compared with ______ (C) for _______ (O)?

Prevention:

For ________ (P) does the use of ______ (I) reduce the future risk of ________ (O) compared with _________ (C)?

Prognosis/Predictions

Does __________ (I) influence ________ (O) in patients who have _______ (P) over ______ (T)?

How do ________ (P) diagnosed with _______ (I) perceive ______ (O) during _____ (T)?

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

Using PICO to Formulate Clinical Questions

PICO  (alternately known as PICOT ) is a mnemonic used to describe the four elements of a good clinical question. It stands for:

P --Patient/Problem I --Intervention C --Comparison O --Outcome

Many people find that it helps them clarify their question, which in turn makes it easier to find an answer. 

Use PICO to generate terms - these you'll use in your literature search for the current best evidence.   Once you have your PICO terms, you can then use them to re-write your question.  (Note, you can do this in reverse order if that works for you.)

Often we start with a vague question such as, "How effective is CPR, really?"  But, what do we mean by CPR?  And how do we define effective?  PICO is a technique to help us - or force us - to answer these questions.   Note that you may not end up with a description for each element of PICO. 

P -  our question above doesn't address a specific problem other than the assumption of a person who is not breathing. So, ask yourself questions such as, am I interested in a specific age cohort? (Adults, children, aged); a specific population (hospitalized, community dwelling); health cohort (healthy, diabetic, etc.)   

I - our question above doesn't have a stated intervention, but we might have one in mind such as 'hands-only'

C - Is there another method of CPR that we want to compare the hands-only to?  Many research studies do not go head to head with a comparison.  In this example we might want to compare to the standard, hands plus breathing

O - Again, we need to ask, what do we mean by 'effective'?  Mortality is one option with the benefit that it's easily measured. 

Our PICO statement would look like:

From our PICO, we can write up a clearer and more specific question, such as:

 In community dwelling adults, how effective is hands-only CPR versus hands plus breathing CPR at preventing mortality?

More information on formulating PICO questions

Now that we've clarified what we want to know, it will be much easier to find an answer.

Breaking Down Your PICO into a Search Strategy

We can use our PICO statement to list terms to search on.  Under each letter, we'll list all the possible terms we might use in our search. 

P - Community Dwelling:  It is much easier to search on 'hospitalized' than non-hospitalized subjects.  So I would leave these terms for last. It might turn out that I don't need to use them as my other terms from the I, C, or O of PICO might be enough.

community dwelling  OR out-of-hospital

P - adults: I would use the limits in MEDLINE or CINAHL for All Adults.  Could also consider the following depending upon the population you need:

adult OR adults OR aged OR elderly OR young adult

CPR  -  cardiopulmonary resuscitation

I - Hands-only

 hands-only OR compression-only OR chest compression OR compression OR Heart Massage

C - Hands plus breathing Breathing is a tougher term to match.

breathing OR mouth to mouth OR conventional OR traditional

O - Mortality:  If your outcomes terms are general, they may not as useful in the literature search.  They will still be useful in your evaluation of the studies.

mortality OR death OR Survival

Putting it together - a search statement from the above might look like this:

cardiopulmonary resuscitation AND (hands-only OR compression-only OR chest compression OR compression OR Heart Massage) AND (breathing OR mouth to mouth OR conventional OR traditional)

Note that the above strategy is only using terms from the I and the C of PICO.  Depending upon the results, you may need to narrow your search by adding in terms from the P or the O.  

An easy way to keep track of your search strategy is to use a table. This keeps the different parts of your PICO question and their various keywords and subject terms together. This document shows you how to use the tables and provides a few options to organize your table. Use whichever works best for you!  Search Strategy Tables to Break your PICO into Concepts .

PICO and Qualitative Questions

A qualitative PICO question focuses on in-depth perspectives and experiences.  It does not try to solve a problem by analyzing numbers, but rather to enrich understanding through words.  Therefore, the emphasis in qualitative PICO questions is on fully representing the information gathered, rather than primarily emphasizing ways the information can be broken down and expressed through measurable units (though measurability can also play an important role). 

A strength of a qualitative PICO question is that it can investigate what patient satisfaction looks like, for example, instead of only reporting that 25% of patients who took a survey reported that they are satisfied. 

When working with qualitative questions, an alternative to using PICO in searching for sources is the SPIDER search tool.  SPIDER is an acronym that breaks down like this:

P=Phenomena of Interest

E=Evaluation

R=Research Type

Cooke, A., Smith, D., & Booth, A. (2012). Beyond PICO: The SPIDER tool for qualitative evidence synthesis . Qualitative Health Research, 22 (10), 1435-1443. doi:10.1177/1049732312452938

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Capstone and PICO Project Toolkit

• Starting a Project: Overview
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• Refining/Narrowing a Search
• Saving Searches
• Critical Appraisal & Levels of Evidence
• Citing & Managing References
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• Term Glossary

Defining the Question: Foreground & Background Questions

In order to most appropriately choose an information resource and craft a search strategy, it is necessary to consider what  kind  of question you are asking: a specific, narrow "foreground" question, or a broader background question that will help give context to your research?

Foreground Questions

A "foreground" question in health research is one that is relatively specific, and is usually best addressed by locating primary research evidence. 

Using a structured question framework can help you clearly define the concepts or variables that make up the specific research question. 

 Across most frameworks, you’ll often be considering:

• a who (who was studied - a population or sample)
• a what (what was done or examined - an intervention, an exposure, a policy, a program, a phenomenon)
• a how ([how] did the [what] affect the [who] - an outcome, an effect). 

PICO is the most common framework for developing a clinical research question, but multiple question frameworks exist.

PICO (Problem/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome)

Appropriate for : clinical questions, often addressing the effect of an intervention/therapy/treatment

Example : For adolescents with type II diabetes (P) does the use of telehealth consultations (I) compared to in-person consultations  (C) improve blood sugar control  (O)?

Framing Different Types of Clinical Questions with PICO

Different types of clinical questions are suited to different syntaxes and phrasings, but all will clearly define the PICO elements.  The definitions and frames below may be helpful for organizing your question:

Intervention/Therapy

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

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

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)?" 

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)?

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.

Beyond PICO: Other Types of Question Frameworks

PICO is a useful framework for clinical research questions, but may not be appropriate for all kinds of reviews.  Also consider:

PEO (Population, Exposure, Outcome)

Appropriate for : describing association between particular exposures/risk factors and outcomes

Example : How do  preparation programs (E) influence the development of teaching competence  (O) among novice nurse educators  (P)?

SPIDER (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research Type)

Appropriate for : questions of experience or perspectives (questions that may be addressed by qualitative or mixed methods research)

Example : What are the experiences and perspectives (E) of  undergraduate nursing students  (S)  in clinical placements within prison healthcare settings (PI)?

SPICE (Setting, Perspective, Intervention/phenomenon of Interest, Comparison, Evaluation)

Appropriate for : evaluating the outcomes of a service, project, or intervention

Example : What are the impacts and best practices for workplace (S) transition support programs (I) for the retention (E) of newly-hired, new graduate nurses (P)?

PCC (Problem/population, Concept, Context)

Appropriate for : broader (scoping) questions

Example : How do nursing schools  (Context) teach, measure, and maintain nursing students ' (P)  technological literacy  (Concept))throughout their educational programs?

Background Questions

To craft a strong and reasonable foreground research question, it is important to have a firm understanding of the concepts of interest.  As such, it is often necessary to ask background questions, which ask for more general, foundational knowledge about a disorder, disease, patient population, policy issue, etc. 

For example, consider the PICO question outlined above:

"For adolescents with type II diabetes does the use of telehealth consultations compared to in-person consultations  improve blood sugar control ?

To best make sense of the literature that might address this PICO question, you would also need a deep understanding of background questions like:

• What are the unique barriers or challenges related to blood sugar management in adolescents with TII diabetes?
• What are the measures of effective blood sugar control?
• What kinds of interventions would fall under the umbrella of 'telehealth'?
• What are the qualitative differences in patient experience in telehealth versus in-person interactions with healthcare providers?
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NRS 302 - Nursing Research

Pico questions.

• Creating Search Strategies
• Finding Evidence
• APA Style (7th ed.)

PICO questions are a tool used to help you

• Assess your situation or problem. What does your patient need? What is their clinical problem or question?
• Construct a well-built question based on your assessment.
• Search the evidence.

Watch the video and review the examples below to help you develop a PICO question to guide your research proposal.

Download the PICO Question Generator worksheet for a guide:

• PICO Question Generator

Case Example

Rita is an RN who works in a nursing home. One of her patients complains of arthritic pain that is worsening. Her medication doesn't seem to be helping. Rita wonders whether massage therapy would present an effective means of treatment for her patient.

Before Rita can look for sources of literature on the subject, she needs to form a question that will:

• Address all the elements of the problem
• Yield relevant results

Constructing the Question using PICO

The PICO format helps you form an answerable questions that identifies the patient problem, the treatments or tests that are being considered, any alternative treatments or tests (if any), and the desired outcome of the treatment(s).

P = Patient or Problem: Who is your patient? What patient population do they belong to? Are there problems endemic to this population?

I = Intervention or Exposure: Which intervention or treatments are you going to research? What do you want for the patient (a prescription, a test, surgery, etc.)?

C = Comparison or Control: What is the main alternative to compare with the intervention? Is your patient already receiving an intervention? Or none at all (control)?

O = Outcome: What do you hope to accomplish, improve, or achieve? What are you trying to do for the patient?

Case Example Revisited

After assessing the problem and constructing a question using the PICO format, Rita comes up with the following question:

P = Geriatric patients with arthritic pain

I = Massage therapy

C = Patient's prescribed NSAID or similar anti-inflammatory drugs

O = Reduced arthritic pain

Complete clinical question: Do geriatric patients with arthritis who receive regular massage therapy have lessened arthritic pain compared to those that do not?

Another Example

Let's look at another example. You're working with an elderly client who is in a nursing home and experiencing social isolation. You're interested in exploring options to help them cope and connect with their loved ones. While doing some quick background research, you discover the potential for digital communication technology to have an impact on social isolation. Before you can proceed with this, you need to find evidence to support your decision, so forming a PICO question will help you effectively search for relevant literature.

Using what we know from our scenario, let's break it down:

• P:  nursing home residents (population) with social isolation (problem)
• I:  videoconference program with family (intervention to be explored)
• C:  normal family visitation at the nursing home (comparison to the new intervention)
• O:  lessened social isolation (our ideal outcome)

If we piece these components into a complete question, it might sound something like this:

Would a videoconference program (I) improve social isolation (O) amongst nursing home residents (P) compared with traditional visitation (C)?

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Evidence-Based Practice: Asking a Clinical Question (PICO)

• Asking a Clinical Question (PICO)
• Levels of Evidence
• Finding the Evidence
• Practice Guidelines
• Appraising the Evidence
• Integrating the Evidence
• Selected EBP Publications

What is PICO(T)

PICO(T) is a mnemonic that stands for:

PATIENT/PROBLEM/POPULATION

INTERVENTION

PICO Resources

• Asking Focused Questions Tips and strategies for asking focused clinical questions more... less... OCEBM
• Asking searchable, answerable clinical questions Fineout‐Overholt, Ellen, and Linda Johnston. "Teaching EBP: Asking searchable, answerable clinical questions." Worldviews on Evidence‐Based Nursing 2, no. 3 (2005): 157-160.
• Evidence-based practice, step by step: asking the clinical question: a key step in evidence-based practice. Stillwell, S. B., Fineout-Overholt, E., Melnyk, B. M., & Williamson, K. M. (2010). Evidence-based practice, step by step: asking the clinical question: a key step in evidence-based practice. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 110(3), 58-61.
• The Well Built Clinical Question Clinical scenarios that walk you through how to turn them into clinical questions. more... less... WS Richardson, MC Wilson, J Nishikawa, RS Hayward. ACP Journal Club. Nov-Dec 1995;123;A12.
• Formulating Answerable Questions Practice answering clinical questions with guided scenarios and step by step instructions.

PICO for MSK Nursing Projects

Are you working on a evidence based project or N-CARE project? Use the PICO(T) format to frame your question.

• Population/ Patient Problem: Who is your patient? (Disease or Health status, age, race, sex) / What is the problem?
• Intervention: What do you plan to do for the patient? (Specific tests, therapies, medications)
• Comparison: What is the alternative to your plan? (ie. No treatment, different type of treatment, etc.)
• Outcome: What outcome do you seek? (Less symptoms, no symptoms, full health, etc.)
• Time:  What is the time frame? (This element is not always included.)

Your PICO(T) question will fall under one of these types:

• Therapy/Prevention

Need Help?  Get assistance from the library -  Literature/PICO Search form !

This easy-to-follow tutorial from the Librarians at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, in partnership with the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM), walks you through an example of turning a clinical research question into PICO format and using that to create search terms.

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PICO- What's in a queston?

The PICOT question format is a consistent "formula" for developing answerable, researchable questions.

Note: Not every question will have an intervention (as in a meaning question) or time (when it is implied in another part of the question) component.

PICO(T) Templates

Template for Asking PICOT Questions

For an intervention/therapy:

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

For etiology:

Are ____ (P) who have _______ (I) at ___ (Increased/decreased) risk for/of_______ (O) compared with ______ (P) with/without ______ (C) over _____ (T)?

Diagnosis or diagnostic test:

Are (is) _________ (I) more accurate in diagnosing ________ (P) compared with ______ (C) for _______ (O)?

Prevention:

For ________ (P) does the use of ______ (I) reduce the future risk of ________ (O) compared with _________ (C)?

Prognosis/Predictions

Does __________ (I) influence ________ (O) in patients who have _______ (P) over ______ (T)?

How do ________ (P) diagnosed with _______ (I) perceive ______ (O) during _____ (T)?

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

Develop your Research Question

The PICO(T) Question

A clinical question that is composed using the PICO or PICOT format will help you to focus your search and help you to develop your research skills which are essential in finding the best available evidence.

The most common PICO(T) elements are:

P - Population

• How you would describe a group of people with a similar problem or complaint.

I - Intervention

• How you plan to treat, medicate, diagnose and/or observe the patient's care.

C - Comparison (if applicable)

• The main intervention alternative you are considering (i.e. placebo, alternative therapy, different drug, surgery).

O - Outcome

• The result from proposed treatment that is measurable, including improvement of symptoms,no symptoms, or complications.

(T) - Time (if applicable)

• The time frame of treatment and/or measurable outcome.

In order be successful in using Evidence Based Practice (EBP) you will need to learn how to develop well-composed clinical questions.  By formatting your research question in a PICO(T) format you can gather evidence relevant to your patient's problem.   Well-composed PICO(T) questions generally contain up to four components each represented in the acronym  " PICO(T)"  P=Patient or Population and Problem; I=Intervention or Indicator; C=Comparison or Control (not part of all questions); O=Outcome; T=Time or Type.

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Nursing 472: picking a pico.

• Back to Lovejoy Library
• Nursing 472
• Picking a PICO
• Levels of Evidence
• Using databases
• Finding guidelines
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• Appraising the Evidence
• Cite Sources
• Class Exercises

PICO is a mnemonic used to help you clarify your clinical question.  It acts as a framework, asking you to think specifically about different aspects of what you want to investigate.  As you build your PICO, you should make sure that you are clear and specific about what you are looking for. This helps you target the right evidence to use in practice.  

In some questions, a T is added to the PICO framwork as well to help find a specific level of evidence.

P: Patient, Problem, or Population

I: Intervention

C: Comparison

T: Timeframe, Type of Study, or Type of Question

Be sure to make your question specific.  What type of patient are you looking for?  Are you using a specific test as your intervention, or a broad group?  If you are looking for better outcomes, what are examples of those outcomes?

Good PICO or bad PICO?

A good clinical question will address most, if not all, parts of the PICO framework.  A good PICO will be specific and define terms and outcomes if necessary.  A good PICO will investigate something new in terms of diagnosis, etiology, therapy, harm, etc.

A bad PICO is usually a background question disguised as a research question.  For example, "what are the effects of Prilosec on patients taking immune suppressants" might seem like a good research question, but it is not.  First, effects of a drug are often considered background information because you can look up this information in a drug monograph- you don't need an article to tell you this.  Second, the question is very vague.  What immune suppressant are you looking at?  What are the characteristics of your population?  You need more details to make this a question worth researching.

It may seem tempting to pick a very specific PICO question, but remember, for many nursing school assignments, you need to find existing literature.  If you can't locate articles about your PICO topic, try searching for one or two components first instead of all of them at once. Some articles many cover one part of your PICO and other articles may cover other parts of it.  You need to build your case and explain the research that is out there, so it is alright if your articles don't 100% match your entire PICO question.

• PICO question templates Use this guide to help structure your PICO question.
• The Well-Built Clinical Question Check out this guide to building a PICO question, developed by UNC.
• Asking Focused Questions PICO guide from the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine.
• Formulating Answerable Questions Practice building your PICO questions here.
• Forming Focused Questions with a Specialty A UNC Health Sciences Library guide about PICO questions within a specialty.

PICO Template Questions

Try words from your topic in these templates.  Your PICO should fit only one type of question in the list.

For an intervention/therapy:

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

For etiology:

Are ____ (P) who have _______ (I) at ___ (Increased/decreased) risk for/of_______ (O) compared with ______ (P) with/without ______ (C) over _____ (T)?

Diagnosis or diagnostic test:

Are (is) _________ (I) more accurate in diagnosing ________ (P) compared with ______ (C) for _______ (O)?

Prevention:

For ________ (P) does the use of ______ (I) reduce the future risk of ________ (O) compared with _________ (C)?

Prognosis/Predictions

In__________ (P) how does ________ (I) compared to _______(C) influence _______ (O) over ______ (T)?

How do ________ (P) diagnosed with _______ (I) perceive ______ (O) during _____ (T)?

Templates from Sonoma State University .

Example PICO Questions

Intervention/Therapy:

In school-age children (P), what is the effect of a school-based physical activity program (I) on a reduction in the incidence of childhood obesity (O) compared with no intervention (C) within a 1 year period (T)?

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) within a 6 month time frame (T)?

Are males 50 years of age and older (P) who have a history of 1 year of smoking or less (I) at an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer (O) compared with males age 50 and older (P) who have no smoking history (C)?

Are women ages 25-40 (P) who take oral contraceptives (I) at greater risk for developing blood clots (O) compared with women ages 25-40 (P) who use IUDs for contraception (C) over a 5 year time frame (T)?

Diagnosis/Diagnostic Test:

Is a yearly mammogram (I) more effective in detecting breast cancer (O) compared with a mammogram every 3 years (C) in women under age 50 (P)?

Is a colonoscopy combined with fecal occult blood testing (I) more accurate in detecting colon cancer (O) compared with a colonoscopy alone (C) in adults over age 50 (P)?

For women under age 60 (P), does the daily use of 81mg low-dose Aspirin (I) reduce the future risk of stroke (O) compared with no usage of low-dose Aspirin (C)?

For adults over age 65 (P) does a daily 30 minute exercise regimen (I) reduce the future risk of heart attack (O) compared with no exercise regimen (C)?

Prognosis/Predictions:

Does daily home blood pressure monitoring (I) influence compliance with medication regimens for hypertension (O) in adults over age 60 who have hypertension (P) during the first year after being diagnosed with the condition (T)?

Does monitoring blood glucose 4 times a day (I) improve blood glucose control (O) in people with Type 1 diabetes (P) during the first six months after being diagnosed with the condition (T)?

How do teenagers (P) diagnosed with cancer (I) perceive chemotherapy and radiation treatments (O) during the first 6 months after diagnosis (T)?

How do first-time mothers (P) of premature babies in the NICU (I) perceive bonding with their infant (O) during the first month after birth (T)?

Health Sciences Librarian

Acknowledgments

Guide developed with assistance from S. Pruitt, student, SIUE School of Nursing, and 2014 URCA program assistant.

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• Last Updated: Jan 12, 2024 9:39 AM
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• Research Databases
• Research Databases for Finding Articles
• Searching the CINAHL Database
• Building a Search Strategy
• Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
• Articles in Nursing Journals
• Accessing Full-Text Articles
• Print Books and E-Books
• Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Drugs & Medications
• Nursing Process
• Patient Case Review
• Concept Maps
• What is EBP?
• PICO(T) Questions

What is a PICO(T) Question?

Pico(t) question templates, ideas for your pico(t) question, tips for building a pico(t) question, example: pico(t) question and search strategy.

• Pre-Appraised Sources of Evidence
• Nursing Theory
• APA 7th Edition Style
• Writing Resources
• Exam Preparation
• Continuing Nursing Education
• Predatory Journals and Publishers
• Poster Presentation Guidance, Templates, & Tips
• Critical Appraisal Resources for Nursing Research & EBP
• DNP Evidence-Based Practice Project: Library Resources This link opens in a new window
• MSN Capstone: Library Resources This link opens in a new window
• NURS 1000: Nursing Orientation (Pre-Nursing) This link opens in a new window
• NURS 3030: Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing (BSN) This link opens in a new window
• NURS 4610: Translating Evidence for Nursing Practice (RN-BSN) This link opens in a new window
• NURS 5910 (MSN) & 7910 (DNP): Advanced Nursing Research
• NURS 7030: Quality Management and Performance Improvement in Health Care Organizations This link opens in a new window
• NURS 7040: Applied Nursing Research (DNP)

Asking questions is at the heart of evidence-based practice.

If nurses never asked questions about how to improve patient care based on scientific research evidence, then no beneficial changes or advancements in nursing practice would occur. Cultivating a spirit of inquiry is essential for evidence-based practice implementation.

The  PICO(T) model  is used widely in evidence-based practice to construct a focused, well-built, and searchable clinical question. This page provides you with the following content to guide you in developing a PICO(T) question of your own:

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a systematic approach to patient care decision-making based on current, best available research evidence. 

The first step in EBP involves re-phrasing a clinical patient care issue in the form of a focused, searchable, and answerable question . 

PICO(T)  is a basic template for creating a well-built clinical question for evidence-based inquiry.

P - Patient/Population/Problem

I - Intervention/Variable of Interest

C - Comparison (can be "standard care" or "usual care", or the opposite of I - "no meditation," "no exposure to smoke", etc.)

O - Outcome(s)

In _____ (P), what is the effect of _____ (I), compared with _____ (C), on _____ (O) within _____ (T)?

There are several templates for developing a PICO(T) question, depending on the nature of your clinical problem.

See the Template for Asking PICO(T) Questions document for examples. 

Identifying a clinical problem that can be translated into a PICO(T) question takes some brainstorming, research, and planning.

The following recommendations can help in triggering ideas for your PICO(T) question:

Problem-Focused or Practice-Focused Triggers:

• Patient cases you have encountered
• Clinical scenarios you have observed
• Quality improvement data
• Other internal data specific to your organization

Knowledge-Focused Triggers:

• Conduct a search of the research literature to identify problems or practice recommendations
• Identify interventions that have been proven effective by previous studies
• Clinical practice guidelines recommendations

Titler, M. G., Kleiber, C., Steelman, V. J., Rakel, B. A., Budreau, G., Everett, L. Q., et al. (2001). The Iowa model of evidence-based practice to promote quality care.  Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America ,  13 (4), 497-509.

Need some inspiration for PICO(T) questions?

Helpful web resources for PICO(T) question ideas can be accessed below: 

• PICO Questions [from University of Kansas Medical Center] This site provides examples by patient care setting under the "PICO Question Examples" section
• Johns Hopkins - EBP Exemplar Library Explore this database of EBP projects completed by clinicians. Many of these projects include good examples of PICOT questions.
• UToledo DNP Student EBP Projects Access and read the full-text of UToledo DNP students' EBP projects. The PICOT questions utilized in these projects may provide you with inspiration and ideas for your own PICOT.
• Ohio State DNP Final Projects Access and read the full-text of OSU DNP students' EBP projects. The PICOT questions utilized in these projects may provide you with inspiration and ideas for your own PICOT.

PICO(T) Question Example: 

"In adult cancer patients experiencing fatigue (P), what is the effect of meditation (I), compared with standard care (C), on quality of life (O) within 6 months (T)?" 

Building a Database Search Strategy for the PICO(T) Question: 

• A well-built PICO(T) question forms the basis of a database search strategy for finding research literature.
• Concepts from the PICO(T) question are used to construct a comprehensive database search strategy with search terms describing each relevant component of the PICO(T). 
• Relevant elements of your PICO(T) question can be used to develop an initial list of keywords (including synonyms) to use in a database search. The most important parts of a PICO(T) question for searching are the P, I, and O. 
• After developing a list of search terms, you can then begin brainstorming your search strategy for combining terms with OR or AND (this is called Boolean logic ), and using other techniques such as truncation (i.e. a keyword search for  letharg* will also find articles with the term lethargic or lethargy ) or quotes (i.e. a keyword search for "guided imagery" will find articles with that exact phrase)
• VIDEO TUTORIAL:   PICO(T) Question & CINAHL Search Tutorial ( this video, originally created for DNP students, but applicable to all nursing students, demonstrates how to perform a database search for evidence to support a PICOT question using the CINAHL database as an example )
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50 interesting PICO question examples.

Pico questions are a type of question used to guide research. They are typically used in clinical settings to help direct and focus research studies. Pico questions are composed of four elements: population, intervention, comparison, and outcome. Continue reading this blog to learn why you may need to answer a PICO question and 50 compelling PICO question examples to guide you in writing your nursing research paper. PICO question examples.

Why you should ask PICO Questions in your nursing research.

Asking PICO questions can help you to focus your research question and make sure that it is answerable. Once you have formulated your PICO question, you can use it to search for relevant evidence. PICO questions are also useful for structuring a literature review or systematic review. PICO question examples.

If you are writing a research paper, you will need to formulate a good research question. Asking a PICO question can help you to focus your question and make sure that it is answerable. Once you have formulated your PICO question, you can use it to search for relevant evidence. PICO questions are also useful for structuring a literature review or systematic review. PICO question examples.

If you are doing a systematic review, you will need to identify all of the studies that address your PICO question. You can do this by searching in databases such as PubMed or Google Scholar. Once you have identified all of the relevant studies, you will need to critically appraise them to determine which are the most reliable. PICO question examples.

When writing a research paper, it is important to formulate a good research question. Asking a PICO question can help you to focus your question and make sure that it is answerable. Once you have formulated your PICO question, you can use it to search for relevant evidence. PICO questions are also useful for structuring a literature review or systematic review. PICO question examples.

50 compelling PICO question examples.

Here are 50 compelling PICO question examples that you can use for your nursing research papers and nursing essays:

• What is the effectiveness of x intervention for y patient/population?
• What are the most effective interventions for y patient/population?
• What is the evidence for x intervention in y patient/population?
• What are the benefits and harms of x intervention for y patient/population?
• Is x intervention more effective than y intervention for y patient/population?
• What is the cost-effectiveness of x intervention for y patient/population?
• What are the barriers to implementing x intervention for y patient/population?
• How does x intervention compare to y intervention for y patient/population?
• What are the benefits and harms of x intervention compared to y intervention for y patient/population?
• Is x intervention more effective than no intervention for y patient/population?
• What is the evidence for x intervention in preventing y patient/population from developing z condition?
• What is the evidence for x intervention in managing y patient/population with z condition?
• What are the benefits and harms of x intervention for y patient/population with z condition?
• What is the evidence for x intervention in reducing the symptoms of y patient/population with z condition?
• What is the evidence for x intervention in improving the quality of life for y patient/population with z condition?
• What are the benefits and harms of x intervention for y patient/population undergoing z procedure
• What are the best ways to prevent pressure ulcers?
• How can nurses most effectively reduce the risk of falls in the elderly?
• What are the most effective interventions for managing pain in cancer patients?
• What are the most effective methods for teaching patients about their medications?
• How can nurses best support patients with chronic illnesses?
• What are the most effective ways to reduce stress in nurses?
• What are the most effective methods for managing diabetes?
• What are the most effective interventions for managing obesity?
• What are the most effective ways to quit smoking?
• What are the most effective methods for managing hypertension?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients prior to surgery?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients prior to a medical procedure?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients prior to an exam?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients prior to a presentation?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients prior to an interview?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients prior to a stressful event?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients prior to a difficult situation?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of flying?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of public speaking?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of heights?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of enclosed spaces?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of the dark?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of dogs?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of snakes?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of spiders?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of water?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of the dentist?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of the doctor?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of needles?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of injections?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of blood tests?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of x-rays?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of MRIs?
• What are the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety in patients that have a fear of CT scans?

Conclusion.

To sum up, it is crucial to ask PICO questions because it helps you to focus your research question and make sure that it is answerable. You can use the 50 compelling PICO question examples in this blog to spart insight on how to write your next PICO question nursing essay. PICO question examples.

References.

Kloda, L. A., & Bartlett, J. C. (2013). Formulating answerable questions: question negotiation in evidence-based practice.  Journal of the canadian health libraries association ,  34 (2), 55-60.

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Holman Library

• Library Instruction
• PICOT: Develop Your Research Question
• PN (Practical Nursing) Students
• BSN (Bachelor of Science) Students
• Evaluate by Specific Criteria
• Distinguish Source Types: Popular, Trade and Scholarly Journals
• Identify & Analyze Scholarly Articles
• Identify Research Study Types
• Critically Appraise Research Study Methodology
• Explore Topic Ideas
• Start with Background Info
• Construct an Advanced Search
• Find Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Articles
• Find Different Research Study Types
• Find Web Sites
• Find Images
• Find Nursing Videos
• Find Pharmacology Info
• Find NCLEX and other Nursing Exams Test Prep
• Citation Basics
• Avoid Plagiarism
• Create APA Citations
• Synthesize Sources
• APA Formatted Paper Example
• Publisher: Tips on Creating a Brochure
• Poster Printing
• STEP 1: Use PICOT do Determine Your Research Question Components
• STEP 2: Write your Research Question in PICO Format
• STEP 3: Develop a Search Construction Strategy
• STEP 4: Perform Searches for Evidence to Answer Your Research Question

•    Use the PICOT template to construct the components of your research question  •    You do not always need to include all components of PICOT if it does not make sense for your topic

...Using the PICOT acronym

(P)  = patient/population/problem (I)  = intervention/indicator (C)  = compare/control (O)  = outcome (T)  = time/type of study or question

...decide which type of research question you will pose (choose from below)

...write your research question using the PICOT acronym format (see formats below)

• Example (intervention): In overweight women, how does an increase in exercise compared to ace inhibitors affect a reduction in blood pressure?  

What is the evaluative process of identifying or determining the nature and cause of a disease or condition?

Write your research question with this PICOT acronym format:

    In ________ (P) are/is ________(I) compared with ________(C) more accurate in diagnosing ________(O)?

Example: 

In patients at high risk for gallbladder dysfucntion (P) is a HIDA scan (I) compared with an ultrasound (C) more accurate in diagnosing gallbladder dysfunction (O)?

What are the factors that produce or predispose an individual towards a certain disease or condition?

Are ______(P) who have ______(I) compared with those without _______(C) at ________ increased/decreased risk for/of _______ (O) over ________(T)?

Example: Are adopted children (P) who have parents with elevated BMI (I) compared with those without parents with normal BMI (C) at increased risk for obesity (O) over age 18 (T)?

Intervention / Therapy

Which treatments leads to the best outcome for the patient?

In _________ (P), how does _________ (I) compared to _________(C) affect _______(O) within _______ (T)?

Example: In middle-aged Caucasian obese females (P), how do lifestyle interventions such as healthy diet and exercise (I) compared to daily administration of ACE inhibitors (C) affect blood pressure (O) over six months(T)?

How do you reduce the chance of disease or complications by identifying and modifying risk factors?

For ________ (P) does the use of ______ (I) reduce the future risk of ________ (O) compared with _________ (C)?

Example: In OR nurses doing a five minute scrub (P) what are the differences in the presence and types of microbes (O) found on natural polished nails and nail beds (I) and artificial nails (C) at the time of surgery (T)?  

Prognosis 

What predicts the course, complications, or outcome of a disease or condition?

In _______ (P), how does ________ (I) compared to ________ (C) influence or predict _________ (O) over _________ (T)?

Example: In older patients with prostate cancer (P), how does choosing to undergo surgery (I) compared to not undergoing surgery (C) influence or quality of life (O) over _________ (T)?  

Meaning/Patient Experience

How does a patient or group experience a phenomenon or event?

How do ________ (P) with _______ (I) perceive ______ (O) during _____ (T)?

Example: How do elderly patients in orthopedic rehabilitation (P) with separation from family (I) perceive their motivation to progress (O) during their recovery (T)?  

(examples from Evidence-based Practice in Nursing: A Guide to Best Practice by Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk and Ellen Fineout-Overholt )

• Determine the most relevant primary search word(s) for each of the PICO element
• Then brainstorm synonyms or related concepts.  As you research, add synonyms you learn about
• Find Scholarly (Peer-Reviewed) Articles

Case Scenario

1. There are several research questions this scenario might trigger in your mind.  Read the case and think of....

• research questions around the patient and potential interventions for her and patients like her
• research questions around nurses and how through their own practice they might improve care for the patient and patients like her

2. For the research question you decide to focus on:

• identify each of the components of PICO
• write a research question in the PICO format

Nura is a 48-year-old premenopausal, multiparous Muslim female from Saudi Arabia suffering from urinary stress incontinence; she is really hindered by the problem and just wants her normal life back.

She has been doing pelvic floor exercises on her own to improve the symptoms, following instructions on a patient education handout she got from a nurse, but she is not sure if she is actually doing the exercises correctly because no one has personally counseled her or actually showed her how to know if she is doing them correctly.

She read about pelvic floor biofeedback on the internet and wonders if that would be another thing she could try in addition to her exercises to help improve her symptoms.

She has heard of surgery for this condition and knows it could help, but is reluctant to consider it because she is very fearful about going under anesthesia before the surgery.

She is very upset and embarrassed by her incontinence, but is unsure about being treated by the physicians and nurses at the clinic because they may not have the cultural sensitivity to her faith to make her comfortable as a patient.

(adapted from Evidence-Based Practice under a (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license)

PICO Worksheet

• BSN Evidence Based Practice Worksheet: PICO
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PICO examples

Here are two example clinical scenarios where the most important elements of the scenario have been identified using the PICO framework.

Tom is 55 years old and has smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for the last 30 years. He is ready to quit, and is wondering about his options. He has heard of a medication called bupropion, but is also familiar with nicotine replacement therapy options such as patches, lozenges, and gum. Tom wants to know which option will work best to help him quit and abstain from smoking again in the future.

Patient/problem/population : mid-50s male with a 30 pack-year history of smoking Intervention : bupropion Comparison intervention: nicotine replacement therapy Outcome : long-term abstinence from smoking

Janet is 42 years old and just had her first mammogram. She does not have a history of breast cancer in her family, and she has heard from her friends that she doesn’t need to have a mammogram every year, only every three years because of new guidelines. She wants to know if she has to come back every year for a mammogram, or if she can make an appointment every three years.

Patient/problem/population : woman in her 40s with no family history of breast cancer Intervention : mammograms every three years Comparison : yearly mammograms Outcome : early detection of breast cancer

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PICO is required for creating clinical questions in evidence-based research in nursing. Evidence-based research papers constitute a major part of the nursing assignments . In such papers, you need to design your PICO research questions in accordance with the PICO framework. The framework is actually divided into four major elements. 

A good clinical question will address most, if not all, aspects of the PICO.  The following are the parameters defined by PICO (T) when it comes to designing of clinical questions: 

P: Patient, Problem, Population 

I: Intervention 

C: Comparison 

O: Outcome 

T: Time frame, Type of Question, Type of study (this additional parameter is not always present but nonetheless it helps in the determination of a perfect clinical question) 

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These elements will help you define the perfect clinical question for your evidence-based nursing report. You will be required to frame the entire nursing research paper based on this framework. Now if you need assistance with your PICO Research Questions or nursing research homework then do not hesitate to contact us. 

Helpwithassignment.com is the most reliable nursing research assignment help provider. We provide top quality help and assistance to nursing students all across the globe. If you are still worried about framing your perfect clinical question then do not hesitate to contact us expert nursing tutors today. Meanwhile, here is a list of 101 PICO Research Questions for you to get an idea:

101 PICO Research Questions

• Is using toys as distractions during giving needle vaccinations to toddlers an effective pain response management? 
• Do pain diaries work in pain management for cancer patients?
• Is the use of anti-bacterial foam dispensers a healthy choice for the nurses?
• Do bedside shift reports help in the overall patient care for nurses?
• Is the lithotomy position an ideal position for giving birth for women in labor? 
• Is cup feeding an infant is better than feeding through tubes in a NICU set up?
• Does raising the head of the bed of a mechanically ventilated patient reduce the chances of pneumonia? 
• Is home visitation a better way of dealing with teen pregnancy when compared to regular school visits in rural areas?
• What is the result of a higher amount of potassium intake amongst children with low blood pressure?
• Is spironolactone a better drug for reducing the blood pressure of teenagers when compared to clonidine?
• What are the health outcomes of having a high amount of potassium for adults over the age of 21 years?
• Do workout routines actually help patients who are suffering from hypertension?
• Does the intervention of flushing the heroine via lines a more effective way of treating patients with CVLs/PICCs? 
• Nasal swab or nasal aspirate? Which one is more effective for children suffering from seasonal flu? 
• Is the use of intravenous fluid intervention a better remedy for infants under fatal conditions?
• What is the most effective way of cutting down the oxygen saturation levels during oxygen therapy for children suffering from urinary tract infections?
• What is the best way of giving oxygen during the process of oxygenation for children between 2 and 3 months old?
• Does controlling the amount of sublingual sugar help completely conscious children suffering from hypoglycaemia?
• What are the best standards of beginning and ending oxygen therapy?
• Is a wound vac a better alternative compared to a standard moist whilst treating an ulcer for a patient suffering from blood pressure?
• Is negative therapy wound pressure a better therapy when compared to a standard moist for dealing with patients over the age of 60 years?
• Does group therapy help patients with schizophrenia to help their conversational skills?
• What are the probable after effects, in the form of bruises and other injuries, of herapin injection therapy for COPD patients?
• Does music therapy is an effective mode of PACU pain management for patients who are slowly coming out from their anesthesia? 
• Is the intake of zinc pills more effective than Vitamin C for preventing cold during winter for middle-aged women? 
• Is skin-to-skin contact of the infant with the mother a more assured way of ensuring neonatal mortality when compared to drying and wrapping?
• Do non-smoking adults have any risk of oeseophagal cancer?
• Is vitamin K prophylaxis effective in preventing Vitamin K deficiency caused during bleeding in a neonatal?
• What are the roles of a pre-surgery cardiac nurse in order to prevent depression amongst patients awaiting cardiac operation?
• Is medical intervention a proper way of dealing with childhood obesity among school-going children?
• Can nurse-led presentation of mental health associated with bullying help in combating such tendencies in public schools?
• What are the effects of adding beta-blockers for lowering blood pressure for adult men over the age of 70 years? 
• Does the habit of washing hands among healthcare workers decrease the events of infections in hospitals? 
• Is psychological intervention for people suffering from dementia a more effective measure than giving them placebo? 
• What are the measurable effects of extending ICU stays and antibiotic consumption amongst children with sepsis? 
• How is antenatal care effective for pregnant women under the age of 20 years?
• Is fentanyl more effective than morphine in dealing with the pain of adults over the age of 50 years?
• Is new regime exercises effective in preventing fatal heart diseases among women with a family history of cardiac disorder?
• Are alarm sensors effective in preventing accidents in hospitals for patients over the age of 65 years?
• Is using continuous feed during emesis a more effective way of intervention when compared to the process of stopping the feed for a short period of time?
• Is the process of stopping lipids for 4 hours an effective measure of obtaining the desired TG level for patients who are about to receive TPN?
• What is it difficult to detect any C difficile for children below the age of 5 years?
• Is the syringe pump more effective than a kangaroo pump in storing breast milk for pediatric patients?
• What is the usefulness of an LP/spinal tap after the beginning of antivirals for a pediatric population suffering from fever?
• Is an annual mammogram necessary for detecting breast cancer for women over the age of 40 years?
• Is it necessary to test blood glucose level, 4 times a day, for a patient suffering from Type 1 diabetes? 
• Are oral contraceptives effective in stopping pregnancy for women above 30 years?
• Are oral contraceptives more likely to cause blood clotting problems for women above the age of 40 years?
• What are the expected outcomes of pediatric patients with MRSA?
• Are inline suction catheters more effective when compared to regular catheters for reducing the risk of infection?
• What are the uses of insuflon port in herapin therapy for pediatric population?
• Is the process of flushing GT with Pedialyte a healthy measure for the prevention of NA depletion? 
• What are the ethical considerations for providing placebo medication for a pediatric population suffering from mental health issues?
• Is monitoring NJT placement by aspiration is a better method for NJT placement in case of infants?
• What is the average bill-level to offer hyperbili amongst newborn patients? 
• Does the use of MDI derive better results, when compared to regular nebulizers, for pediatric patients suffering from asthma?
• What are the reasons for getting an infant afebrile, for an entire day, before getting a VCUG? 
• Is the sudden change of temperature harmful for patients who are neurologically devastated? 
• What is the accuracy level of oral thermometers when compared to the tympanic thermometer for the pediatric population?
• What are the standards of vital signs for a pediatric population?
• Does psychological intervention help in the increase of self-confidence amongst patients who are suffering from chronic diseases?
• What are the impacts of managing Prevacid before a ph probe study for pediatric patients with GERD? 
• Are cold packs more effective than heat packs for IV infiltrates? 
• Is placing a toddler in a prone situation better in preventing any air leak, considering he/she is using chest tubes?
• What are the impacts of using  an intermittent straight catheter for children suffering from UTI? 
• What is the clinical relation between congenital central hypoventilation syndrome and Hirschsprung?
• Are there any advantages of utilizing TPA in the tubes as a thrombolytic therapy for patients with chest tubes?
• What is the effectiveness of RASKIN protocol for dealing with patients with migraine? 
• What is the significance of using three banks of lights for infants suffering from hyperbilirubinemia?
• Do bilirubin levels decrease faster when more banks of lights are being used for treating infants with hyperbilirubinemia?
• What are the effects of IVF bolus in controlling the amount of Magnesium Sulfate for patients who are suffering from asthma? 
• Are ethanol locks effective in preventing catheter-based infections amongst infants?
• What are the consequences of vaccination amongst children when compared to adults?
• Is the use of infrared skin thermometers justified when compared to the tympanic thermometers for a pediatric population?
• What are the basic protocols of AFB culture for diagnosing patients with tuberculosis?
• Infants suffering from SGS normally throws-up when Imodium is being introduced. What are the alternatives to this?
• Is the use of modern syringes help in the reduction of needle injuries among healthcare workers in America?
• Is the increase in the intake of anti-depressants among 30 years and older urban women affecting their maternal health? 
• What is the direct connection between VAP and NGT?
• Is sodium bicarb absorption better done through tubes when compared to swallowing it? 
• Is the increase of the use of mosquito net in Uganda helped in the reduction of malaria among the infants? 
• Does the increase in the habit of smoking marijuana among Dutch students increase the chances of depression? 
• Does the increase in the intake of oral contraceptives increase the chances of breast cancer among 20-30 years old women in the UK? 
• Is bullying in the boarding schools of Scotland increase the chances of domestic violence in a 20 years’ time frame?
• Does the use of pain relief medication during the process of the surgery reduce the pain more effectively when compared to the intake of the same medicine given post-surgery? 
• Do breastfeeding toddlers in the urban United States decrease their chances of obesity as pre-schoolers? 
•  Does encouraging male work colleagues to talk about sexual harassment decrease the rate of depression in the workplace? 
• Does forming workgroups to discuss domestic violence among the rural population of the United States decrease stress and depression among women? 
• Do peer-supported intervention programs help prevent school suicide rates among female students of New York?
• Is yoga an effective medical therapy in the reduction of lymphedema in patients who are recovering from neck cancer?
• Does receiving phone tweets lower blood sugar levels for people suffering from Type 1 diabetes? 
• Are males over the age of 30 years who have smoked for more than 1 year exposed to greater risk of esophageal cancer when compared to the same age group of men who has no history of smoking? 
• Do women, between the age of 25 and 40 years, who takes regular oral contraceptives are in greater risk of blood clots when compared to the women in the same age group who avoid oral contraceptives?
• For women under the age of 50 years is yearly mammogram more effective in the prevention of breast cancer when compared to the mammogram done every 3 years?
• Are cancer patients receiving aggressive protocols involving radiation and chemotherapy more vulnerable to cachexia when compared to the patients who are not receiving those treatments?
• Can colon cancer be more effectively determined when colonoscopy is supported by an occult blood test when compared to colonoscopy alone?
• Does a regular 30 minutes exercise regime effectively reduce the chances of heart diseases in adults over 65 years?
• Is daily blood pressure monitoring helps in addressing the triggers of hypertension among males over 65 years?
• After diagnosed with blood sugar levels does a 4 times a day blood glucose monitoring process more effective in controlling the advent of Type 1 diabetes?
• Does prolonged exposure to chemotherapy increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases among teenagers who are suffering from cancer?
• Do first-time mothers giving birth to premature babies are more prone to postpartum depression when compared to second or third-time mothers with the same condition?

These are a few examples of the PICO Research Questions which are based on the PICO parameters of population, problem, patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome. You should note that not all the question covers all the parameters of the PICO or PICOT but they most definitely define the outline of the nursing essay help or nursing thesis . If you need help with designing your clinical research question or need help with your nursing assignment , then do not hesitate to contact us today!

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References: 

https://guides.nyu.edu/c.php?g=276561&p=1847897

https://guides.mclibrary.duke.edu/ebm/pico

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Frameworks for creating answerable (re)search questions

• Definition of research question frameworks
• Further help

What is PICO ?

The  PICO  framework helps you to formulate and structure your foreground question, breaking down a clinical scenario and enabling you to effectively trace the most relevant information sources you require for your research. 

PICO is the acronym for  P atient I ntervention C omparison O utcome.

Examples of questions that it may be used for (not a conclusive list):

Treatment:  establishing whether a particular treatment would benefit a patient

Diagnostic : confirm or exclude a diagnosis

Prognosis : estimate the likely course of a medical condition

Prevention : reduce the chances of disease by identifying risk factors 

Gerrish, K. and Lacey, A. (eds.)  (2010)  The research process in nursing.  6th ed. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Further examples of PICO questions:

List of PICO questions - Recommendations for Management of Common Childhood Conditions - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)

Finding information sources for a PICO question

After having identified the PICO concepts, you can develop keywords to find information sources to solve your clinical question. Search operators like AND/OR are needed to combine your keywords.

Please use the Search Strategy How to Guide for further help.

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• Last Updated: Feb 26, 2024 4:21 PM
• URL: https://library.lsbu.ac.uk/questionframeworks