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PHTH 757: Concepts of EBP

PICO

Patient

What are the most important characteristics?

Primary problem

Disease state

Co-existing condition

Describe your patient in detail:

Sex

Age

Ethnicity Socioeconomic status

Intervention

What do you want to do for the patient?

Order a test

Prescribe a drug

Order a procedure

Other considerations:

Main intervention

Prognostic factors

Exposures

Comparison

What is the alternate intervention, if any?

A different drug

No medication

A different test

A different procedure

Outcome

What are you hoping to achieve, measure, or change for the patient?

Alleviate symptoms

Improve test results

Reduce pain

Improve function

Create the Search Strategy

Once you have established your PICO, determine which keywords to use in your search. For example,

PICO Scenario Keywords to Use
Patient 74 years old male with back pain older adult OR elderly OR senior
Intervention stabilization exercise motor control exercise OR core stabilization OR multifidi
Comparison manual therapy musculoskeletal manipulation OR Massage
Outcome reduce pain pain management

 

Formulating PICO Questions

DIAGNOSIS OR DIAGNOSTIC TEST

  • Are/is (I) more accurate in diagnosing (P) compared with (C) for (O)?

ETIOLOGY

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

INTERVENTION/THERAPY

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

MEANING

  • How do (P) diagnosed with (I) perceive (O) during (T)?

PREVENTION

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

PROGNOSIS/PREDICTION

  • Does (I)  influence (O) in patients who have (P) over (T)?

From: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Wolters Kluwer

Think about PICOT

Subjects: Physical Therapy