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Physician Assistant

PICO(T)

A PICO(T) question focuses on quantitative data. 

Patient

What are the most important characteristics?

Describe your patient in detail:

  • Sex
  • Age
  • Ethnicity Socioeconomic status

And the need:

  • Primary problem
  • Disease
  • Co-existing condition

Intervention

What do you want to do for the patient?
  • Order a test
  • Prescribe a drug
  • Order a procedure

Also consider:

  • 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

Time

This can reflect the duration of the intervention, therapy, time of exposure, drug usage, and data from publications.

Templates for PICO(T) 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

PEO

A PEO question focuses on qualitative data. To formulate a PEO question:

In or with _____ (P), will ____ (E) result in ___ (O)

Population

Describe your patient in detail:

  • Sex
  • Age
  • Ethnicity Socioeconomic status

Exposure

What is the population exposed?

Outcome

What is the result of the exposure on your population?

Think about PICOT