research question generator pico

PICOT Research Question Generator

Welcome to the PICOT Research Question Generator! My name is Eric Heidel, PhD, PStat, and I am an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) as well as an Accredited Professional Statistician. I have taught the PICOT ( Population , Intervention , Comparator , Outcome , and Time ) framework for creating research questions to thousands of medical professionals over the past 14 years (see About page; opens in new window). I created the PICOT Research Question Generator to help researchers create valid research questions using the PICOT framework.

You will be prompted below to choose one of four potential statistical objectives for your PICOT question. Then, you will enter text related to your PICOT question into text boxes that reflect each of the five PICOT components. Finally, you will click on a button and the PICOT Research Question Generator will present the following:

• Your PICOT question
• Your null and alternative hypotheses
• Your independent variable
• Your dependent variable
• The statistical test used to answer your PICOT question

It should take you less than five minutes to complete the web form below. If you want to create a PICOT research question related to between-subjects, within-subjects, correlational, multivariate, interventions, prevention, prognosis, diagnosis, or etiology, please use the PICOT question examples page (opens in new window). You can also use the full version of the PICOT Research Question Generator, which will take you between 15-20 minutes to complete (opens in new window). Or, check out the page that shows how PICOT can be "mapped" onto 21 popular statistical tests by visiting the PICOT question and statistics page (opens in new window).

Please Like or Share this website on Facebook! Thank you for using the PICOT Research Question Generator!

What is the statistical objective of your PICOT question?

What is the statistical objective of your PICOT research question? Choose an option below and then select the answers that best fit your statistical objective.

The PICOT Question

Population and picot.

In the text box below, enter text describing the population for your study in general terms and click on the Submit button.

Intervention and PICOT

In the text box below, enter text describing the intervention that is being administered and click on the Submit button.

Comparator and PICOT

In the text box below, enter text describing the comparator that is being administered and click on the Submit button.

Outcome and PICOT

In the text box below, enter text describing the outcome that will be measured for in your study and click on the Submit button.

Time and PICOT

In the text box below, enter text describing the time frame for your study and click on the Submit button.

Your PICOT Question

Click on the button below to generate your PICOT question, research hypotheses, independent and dependent variables, and statistical tests.

PICO Question Generator

PICO Question Generator can help you come up with a PICO question quickly and effectively! All you need to do is to take 4 simple steps:

• Fill in all the necessary fields.
• Use hints if something is not clear to you.
• Click the “Generate” button.
• Check the result.

🔤 What Is the PICO Question Generator?

📚 pico question types, ✍️ how to develop a pico question, 👩‍⚕️ nursing pico question examples, ✨ pico research question generator: benefits, ❓ pico generator research: faq, 🔗 references.

PICO Question Generator is a perfect online tool for nursing students that can make healthcare research smoother and easier! With the help of our generator, you can come up with a PICO question within a couple of seconds and absolutely for free!

What is a PICO question? It is an effective way to formulate questions that arise in clinical practice. In other words, it is a complex query that assists medical students in conducting evidence-based research and learning more about a subject or problem.

A PICO question, sometimes written as a PICOT question, comprises several elements:

• P – Population, patient, problem.
• I – Intervention.
• C – Comparison or control.
• O – Outcome or objective.
• T – Time frame (optional component).

There are 5 key types of PICO questions. Look at the table below to learn more about them!

If you are looking for a practical guide on formulating a PICO question, this section is for you! Follow the steps below, and the result will not keep you waiting!

• Determine the population or problem. Identify the characteristics of a patient group or the condition of interest.
• Identify the intervention. Choose the exposure or treatment that would affect the patient or problem.
• Specify the alternative intervention. Determine an alternative to your selected intervention. It can be either a different treatment, usual care, or an absence of intervention.
• State the expected outcome. Think of the expected result as something that you and the patient are most concerned about. The outcome should be measurable ; otherwise, you won’t be able to determine whether the treatment works.
• Combine all elements into a question. Finally, put all components together to formulate a complex and concise PICO question.

We have prepared 3 practical examples of what PICO questions should look like. Check them out below!

📄 Example 1: PICO Question for Depression

📄 example 2: pico question for diabetes, 📄 example 3: pico question for women’s health.

Our PICO Question Generator has so many bonuses for its users!

❓ What Does PICO Question Stand for?

PICO(T) question stands for:

• T – Time frame.

❓ How to Formulate a PICO Question?

• Identify a group of people, patients, or issues.
• Define the intervention.
• Find an alternative intervention.
• Describe the expected outcome.
• Combine all the components in a PICO question.

❓ What Is a Good PICO Question for Nursing?

A good PICO question should meet the following criteria:

• Be specific.
• Include key terms and avoid unnecessary words.
• Aim to find the best practice.
• Find something new in terms of diagnosis, etiology, or therapy.
• Nursing 472: Picking a PICO | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
• PICOT Research Question | Physiopedia
• Nursing - Graduate: PICOT & Evidence Based Practice | Grand Valley State University
• NRS 302 - Nursing Research | Aultman Health Sciences Library
• PICO(T): Definitions and Examples | Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

• Call to +1 844 889-9952

Free PICOT Question Generator

This template will help you design a PICOT question for your research easily.

Need help with the right PICOT question for your paper? To use this PICOT question generator, just follow 3 easy steps:

• 🔧 How to Use the Tool?

🎓 PICOT Question Explained

• 📝 PICOT Question Template

👀 PICOT Question Examples

• 🌟 Benefits of the Tool

🔗 References

🔧 how to use the picot question generator.

Healthcare research can be daunting since many details exist within a single health condition. A well-designed PICOT question helps make the research process more focused and manageable.

To make your PICOT question formulation easier, we have developed a tool that organizes the terms of your clinical query. Here is how to use it:

• Choose your target population. What is the problem or patient group that you are going to research?
• Specify the intervention. What treatment do you consider for the chosen population?
• Identify the intervention for comparison. What other interventions deserve attention?
• State the expected outcome. What is the goal of the selected treatment?
• Add the required time. How long will it take to achieve the desired results?

The PICOT question is widely used in the medical field as a search tool for research evidence . Knowing its definition, significance, and methods of utilizing it is crucial.

What Is a PICOT Question?

The PICOT research question is a valuable method for summarizing study concerns about the efficacy of therapy.

PICOT stands for P atient, I ntervention, C omparison, O utcome, and T ime.

Scholars created it as an evidence-based practice paradigm to fill knowledge gaps in patient care.

Nowadays, the PICOT question is widely utilized in the medical industry, both by healthcare professionals and students. Making a detailed and focused research question helps one perform evidence-based research and learn more about a subject or condition. In addition, this method aids in evaluating colleagues’ research or opinions from similar or related disciplines.

What Is It Used For?

The PICOT question is used to create or locate the best evidence-based practice studies. There are several core benefits that the research question can bring:

• Concentrate on an important topic. PICOT aids in creating a question that focuses on a critical issue for a patient or population.
• Identify relevant keywords. It helps to determine key terms to utilize when looking for proof.
• Select the outcomes. The question assists in filtering and choosing results that are directly connected to the topic in which you are interested.
• Cover a wide range of categories. PICOT question is helpful in therapy, diagnosis, etiology , and prognosis.

PICOT Question Format

Each component of the PICOT contributes to developing a well-structured question. Overall, there are 5 core elements.

Using the PICOT format helps develop detailed and insightful questions that assist in searching for evidence and providing the best solution.

📝 PICOT Question Generator Template

The framework of writing a PICOT question consists of 7 practical steps:

• Formulate a general question . It is crucial to make up the initial question to focus on the results you want to receive at the end of the process.
• Decide on keywords. After you find a general topic for your question, you should highlight the keywords with the help of the PICOT mnemonic and identify each element.
• Plan the strategy. Create a strategic plan that you will use in researching the issue. In addition, to maximize your search terms , you can use tactics such as seeking up synonyms and phrases that denote the same thing.
• Find the information you need. It is vital to search each PICOT element individually to receive as much valuable data as possible.
• Filter the information . You can narrow down the circle of data to particular articles and resources.
• Estimate the amount of information. Double-check the research findings to see if they contain enough information to answer the PICOT question.
• Assess the outcome. Ensure that the research results meet standards and offer the best evidence.

We have prepared for you 3 examples of PICOT questions.

🌟 Why Use PICOT Question Generator

The PICOT Question generator has several benefits for its users:

• Easy to use and navigate. You do not need specific abilities to create questions because the tool takes care of everything.
• Accessible without extra apps. The PICOT question generator works without additional apps. All you need is an Internet connection.
• Free of charge. You can use our tool whenever you need it without spending a dollar. What can be better?
• Fast and accurate. Since our online generator is automatic, there is no need to wait several hours to create the PICOT question. The entire process takes a few minutes.
• Available on any device. You can utilize the tool on your smartphone or computer.

PICOT question is a vital mechanism used to find evidence for the study in the medical industry. We recommend using our online generator to make creating your research question smoother and easier. We know how crucial it is for you, and we are confident you will do well with your essay!

Updated: Apr 19th, 2024

• What is Your Research Question? — National Library of Medicine
• Write a Focused Clinical Question — Northern Arizona University
• Pico — What’s in a Question? — California State University
• The Underappreciated and Misunderstood PICOT Question — Wiley
• PICO(T): Definitions and Examples — Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

Capstone and PICO Project Toolkit

• Starting a Project: Overview
• Developing a Research Question
• Selecting Databases
• Expanding a Search
• Refining/Narrowing a Search
• Saving Searches
• Critical Appraisal & Levels of Evidence
• Citing & Managing References
• Database Tutorials
• Types of Literature Reviews
• Finding Full Text
• 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?
• << Previous: Starting a Project: Overview
• Next: Selecting Databases >>
• Last Updated: May 2, 2024 10:52 AM
• URL: https://guides.nyu.edu/pico

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

• The EBP Process
• Forming a Clinical Question
• Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria
• Acquiring Evidence
• Appraising the Quality of the Evidence
• Writing a Literature Review
• Finding Psychological Tests & Assessment Instruments

The PICO(T) Chart

When searching for evidence-based practice studies in the Nursing and Medical databases, you must first develop a  well-built clinical question . Below is a chart to guide you in formulating a question by breaking it down to its most important parts.

Students sometimes have difficulty incorporating classroom skills into the clinical setting. The PICO(T) Chart provides an easy framework for integrating clinical information into the development of a research question. Students can complete the following worksheet, incorporating detailed information into each response.

Decide what your research interest or topic is and then develop a research question to answer it.

Design a question that incorporates the most salient piece of information from each of the above categories.

PICO Template Questions

The PICO framework is ideal for building questions that focus on comparing treatments . Other types of questions—especially those focused on prognosis, etiology, or perceptions—can be more challenging. Just remember that the Intervention portion usually represents the piece of your research you're interested in comparing or controlling; if you were designing an experiment, it would be the piece that you manipulate to see what results you'd get. 

You may find it helpful to use one of the following templates when creating your PICO question. Remember, the time (T) piece is usually optional and therefore can be omitted.

Treatment (therapy) — questions addressing the treatment of an illness or disability:

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

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

Ex 1: In African American female adolescents with hepatitis B (P), how does acetaminophen (I) affect liver function (O) compared with ibuprofen (C)? Ex 2: In inpatient chronic schizophrenia patients (P), do social skills group training sessions (I) increase conversational skills (O) when compared with standard care (C)?

Prevention  — questions addressing the prevention of a risk factor or problematic health condition:

In _______(P), does the use of _______(I) reduce the incidence [or future risk] of _______(O) compared with _______(C)?

Ex: In adult females (P), do daily vitamin C or zinc supplements (I) reduce the incidence of the common cold (O) compared with no intervention (C)?  

Diagnosis — questions addressing the process of determining the nature and cause of a disease or injury through evaluation:

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

Ex: In middle-aged males with suspected myocardial infarction (P), are serial 12-lead ECGs (I) more accurate in diagnosing an acute myocardial infarction (O) compared with one initial 12-lead ECG (C)?  

Prognosis (natural history) — questions addressing the prediction of the course of a disease:

In _______(P) how does _______(I) compared with _______(C) influence _______(O) over/during _______(T)?

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

Ex 1: In patients 65 years and older (P), how does the use of an influenza vaccine (I) compared with not receiving the vaccine (C) influence the risk of developing pneumonia (O) during flu season (T)? Ex 2: In patients who have experienced an acute myocardial infarction (P), how does being a smoker (I) compared with being a non-smoker (C) influence death and infarction rates (O) during the first 5 years after the myocardial infarction (T)?  

Etiology or harm (causation) — questions addressing the causes or origin of disease, the factors that produce or predispose toward a certain disease or disorder:

Are _______(P) who have _______(I) at increased/decreased risk of _______(O) compared with those who have/do not have _______(C) over/during _______(T)?

Ex: Are 30- to 50-year-old women (P) who have high blood pressure (I) at increased risk for an acute myocardial infarction (O) compared with those without high blood pressure (C) during the first year after hysterectomy (T)?

Meaning or quality of life — questions addressing how one experiences a phenomenon:

How do _______(P) diagnosed with _______(I) perceive _______(O) compared with _______(C) during/over _______(T)?

Ex 1: How do young males (P) diagnosed with below-the-waist paralysis (I) perceive their interactions with their romantic partners (O) during the first year after their diagnosis (T)? Ex 2: How do pregnant women (P) newly diagnosed with diabetes (I) perceive reporting their blood sugar levels to their healthcare providers (O) during their pregnancy and six weeks postpartum (T)?

Adapted from the PICOT Question Template, Ellen Fineout-Overholt, 2006. This form may be used for educational and research purposes without permission.

• << Previous: The EBP Process
• Next: Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria >>
• Last Updated: Nov 15, 2023 11:47 AM
• URL: https://libguides.umsl.edu/ebp

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.

• << Previous: Clinical research questions
• Next: Qualitative research questions >>
• Last Updated: Feb 26, 2024 4:21 PM
• URL: https://library.lsbu.ac.uk/questionframeworks

• UNC Libraries
• HSL Subject Research
• Forming Focused Questions with PICO

Forming Focused Questions with PICO: About PICO

Created by health science librarians.

What does PICO stand for?

The pico framework, get help with your pico.

• PICO's Limitations
• PICO Examples
• Other Question Frameworks

Additional letters (for PICOT, PICOS, PICOTS, PICOTTS)

• T ype of study

This guide introduces the PICO question framework for evidence-based practice. It explores PICO’s history, purpose, and limitations. This guide also introduces other question frameworks and provides example questions from across many health professions.

PICO and Its History

PICO is an acronym used to remember the key components of a clinical question. Physicians first developed the PICO framework in evidence-based medicine as a way to address knowledge gaps during patient encounters. Questions could arise around a patient’s diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy, as well as around prevention strategies and patient education. Since then, PICO has become the most widely used question framework for evidence-based practice.

The Purpose of PICO

PICO is useful in academic and clinical settings. It can help you:

• form a question that focuses on the most important issue for a patient or a population
• identify key terms to use in a search for evidence
• select results that directly relate to the situation

PICO has some limitations. The framework privileges interventions, experimental research, and dominant voices.

PICO's Limitations

• Example PICO questions Use this worksheet from Sonoma State University to help you structure your PICO question. (Word doc)
• Asking the Well-Built Clinical Question This guide walks you through the steps of EBP from PICO development to appraisal. Developed by UNC and Duke.

Other guides and tools:

• Asking Focused Questions PICO guide from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM)
• Formulating Answerable Questions Practice developing your PICO questions here.
• Next: PICO's Limitations >>
• Last Updated: Feb 6, 2024 9:51 AM
• URL: https://guides.lib.unc.edu/pico

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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)?

• << Previous: Home
• Next: Creating Search Strategies >>
• Last Updated: Jan 26, 2023 1:26 PM
• URL: https://aultman.libguides.com/nrs302

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• Getting Started
• Additional Frameworks
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• Timeline & Resources
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• Resources & More

PICOT Tutorials

What is PICOT - A Tutorial

Using PICOT to Formulate Your Literature Search

Librarian Profile

Developing Your Question

Developing your research question is one of the most important steps in the review process. At this stage in the process, you and your team have identified a knowledge gap in your field and are aiming to answer a specific question, such as

• If X is prescribed, then Y will happen to patients?

OR assess an intervention

• How does X affect Y?

OR synthesize the existing evidence 

• What is the nature of X? ​

​​Whatever your aim, formulating a clear, well-defined research question of appropriate scope is key to a successful review. The research question will be the foundation of your review and from it your research team will identify 2-5 possible search concepts. These search concepts will later be used to build your search strategy. 

PICOT Questions

Formulating a research question takes time and your team may go through different versions until settling on the right research question.  A research question framework can help structure your systematic review question.  

PICO/T is an acronym which stands for

• P        Population/Problem
• I         Intervention/Exposure
• C        Comparison
• O       Outcome
• T       Time

Each PICO includes at least a P, I, and an O, and some include a C or a T. Below are some sample PICO/T questions to help you use the framework to your advantage. 

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)?

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.

Ghezzi-Kopel, Kate. (2019, September 16). Developing your research question. (research guide). Retrieved from  https://guides.library.cornell.edu/systematic_reviews/research_question

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• Next: Additional Frameworks >>
• Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024 11:37 AM
• URL: https://libguides.wvu.edu/SystematicReviews

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Guides & Tutorials

Systematic Search for Systematic Review

• Formulate Research Question Using PICO
• Introduction
• Find Systematic Reviews (SR)
• Databases Selection for Conducting SR
• Step 1. Set Preferences in EndNote
• Step 2. Create Groups in EndNote
• Step 3. Export Search Results from Databases to EndNote
• Step 4. Add Name of Database to References
• Step 5. Remove Duplicate Records
• Step 6. Share References with Teammates
• Step 7. Find Full Text Articles
• [Optional] Export References to Excel

Worksheets for Documenting & Reporting Search Process

Here are some resources for you to document and report your search process in a systematic review. 

• Workbook for documenting systematic search
• PRISMA Flow Diagram A flow diagram to depict the flow of information through the different phases of a systematic review. It maps out the number of records identified, included and excluded, and the reasons for exclusions.

Understanding SR

• What are systematic reviews? (Cochrane)
• Intro to Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
• Using PICO to formulate a search question   (CEBM)
• Turning search terms into a search   (CEBM)
• Turning your search strategy into results: PubMed demonstration   (CEBM)

Understanding study design

• What is a randomised trial?
• Epidemiology Study Types: Randomized Control Trial
• Epidemiology Study Types: Cohort and Case-Control
• Cohort, Case-Control, Meta-Analysis, Cross-sectional Study Designs & Definition 

Copyright Disclaimer

Except where otherwise noted, the content of this guide is licensed under a  CC BY-NC 4.0 License .

A systematic review aims to answer a specific research (clinical) question. A well-formulated question will guide many aspects of the review process, including determining eligibility criteria, searching for studies, collecting data from included studies, and presenting findings ( Cochrane Handbook , Sec. 5.1.1).

To define a  researchable  question, the most commonly used structure is  PICO , which specifies the type of P atient or P opulation, type of I nterventions (and C omparisons if there is any), and the type of O utcomes that are of interest. 

The table below gives an example on how a research question is framed using the PICO structure. You may also use the PICO components to write the objective and title of your review, and later to structure your inclusion and exclusion criteria for study selection. This ensures that the whole review process is guided by your research question. 

Type of Question and Study Design

While formulating your research question, it's also important to consider the  type of question  you are asking because this will affect the type of studies (or study design ) to be included in your review.

Each type of question defines its type of studies in order to provide the best evidence. For example, to answer a therapeutic question, you need to include as many Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) as possible, because RCTs are considered to have the highest  level of evidence  (least bias) for solving a therapeutic problem. 

The table below suggests the best designs for specific type of question. The Level of Evidence pyramid, which is widely adopted in the medical research area, shows a hierarchy of the quality of medical research evidence in different type of studies ( Level of Evidence (2011), Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine, CEBM ).

Usually, the study design of a research work will be clearly indicated either in its title or abstract, especially for RCT. Some databases also allow to search or refine results to one or a few study designs, which helps you locate as many as possible the relevant studies. If you are not sure the study design of a research work, refer to this brief guide for spotting study designs  (by CEBM).

Learn to Build a Good Clinical Question

Learn to build a good clinical question  from this  EBP Tutorial: Module 1:  "Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice"

It is provided by Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.

PICO Framework and the Question Statement The above named section  in the Library guide:  Evidence-Based Practice in Health , provided by the University of Canberra Library, explains the PICO framework with examples and in various question types.

Documenting Your Search Process

Systematic review requires a detailed and structured reporting of the search strategy and selection criteria used in the review. Therefore we strongly advise you to document your search process from the very beginning. You may use this workbook  to help you with the documentation.

The documentation should include:

• Research concepts in PICO structure and research question ,
• Type of studies you intend to include, and
• Inclusion and exclusion criteria in PICO structure

and the whole search process, including:

• Databases searched (hosting platforms) , including journals and other sources covered in handsearching
• Date of search
• Search strategy , including keywords and subject headings used, the combination of searches (usually copy-paste from database search page)
• Filters used in initial search or refine results, including year coverage, type of studies, age, etc.
• Number of results retrieved after each search and refinement in each database
• Total number of results from all databases searched
• Duplicates identified from all results
• Number of results with full text

Eventually, you will need to include the information above when you start writing your review. A highly recommended structure for reporting the search process is the PRISMA Flow Diagram . You may also use PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator to generate a diagram in a different format (based on your input). 

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• Next: Databases Selection for Conducting SR >>
• Last Updated: Apr 22, 2024 10:53 AM
• URL: https://libguides.lb.polyu.edu.hk/syst_review

School of Nursing

• What is EBP?

Background vs. Foreground

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

• Evidence Appraisal
• Clinical Tools and Databases
• Other Resources

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
• TRIP Database PICO Builder
• PICO Worksheet
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• URL: https://libguides.ohsu.edu/nursing

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• Undergraduate Students
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How to Conduct a Literature Review (Health Sciences and Beyond)

• What is a Literature Review?

The Research Questions

• Selection Criteria
• Database Search
• Documenting Your Search
• Organize Key Findings
• Reference Management

Background vs. Foreground Questions

You may need to find answers to background questions (i.e. about general knowledge) before seeking answers to foreground questions (i.e. about specific knowledge, such as information that might inform a clinical decision).

The research questions on this page are for foreground questions.

A well-formulated research question:

• starts your entire search process
• provides focus for your searches
• guides the selection of literature sources

Question formats are helpful tools researchers can use to structure a question that will facilitate a focused search. Such formats include: PICO , PEO , SPIDER , and  COSMIN . Other formats can be found here .  

The  PICO  format is commonly used in evidence-based clinical practice.  This format creates a "well-built" question that identifies four concepts: (1) the P atient problem or P opulation, (2) the I ntervention, (3) the C omparison (if there is one), and (4) the O utcome(s) .

Example : In adults with recurrent furunculosis (skin boils), do prophylactic antibiotics, compared to no treatment, reduce the recurrence rate?  ( Cochrane Library Tutorial, 2005 )

The  PEO  question format is useful for qualitative research questions. Questions based on this format identify three concepts: (1) P opulation, (2) E xposure, and (3) O utcome(s) .

Example:  In infants, is there an association between exposure to soy milk and the subsequent development of peanut allergy ( Levine, Ioannidis, Haines, & Guyatt, 2014 )?

The  SPIDER  question format was adapted from the PICO tool to search for qualitative and mixed-methods research.  Questions based on this format identify the following concepts: (1) S ample, (2) P henomenon of I nterest, (3) D esign, (4) E valuation, and (5) R esearch type .

Example:  What are young parents’ experiences of attending antenatal education? 

Search for ( S  AND  P of I   AND ( D  OR  E ) AND  R ) ( Cooke, Smith, & Booth, 2012 ).

The COSMIN  ( CO nsensus-based  S tandards for the selection of health status M easurement IN struments ) format is used for systematic review of measurement properties.  Questions based on this format identify (1) the construct or the name(s) of the outcome measurement instrument(s) of interest,  (2) the target population, (3) the type of measurement instrument of interest, and (4) the measurement properties on which the review focuses.

Visit the COSMIN website to view the COSMIN manual and checklist.

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• Last Updated: Mar 15, 2024 12:22 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.vcu.edu/health-sciences-lit-review

• Research Process

Clinical Questions: PICO and PEO Research

• 4 minute read
• 86.4K views

Table of Contents

When you’re beginning the clinical research process, one of your first decisions will be around framing your clinical question. That, in turn, will depend on if your research is quantitative, or based on numerical data, or qualitative research based on non-numerical data. A PICO clinical question is tied to quantitative data, whereas a PEO question relates to qualitative data.

Let’s take a look at both of these clinical question formats.

What is a PICO Question?

As mentioned above, a PICO research question is used when quantitative data is involved. PICO stands for:

• P – Population, Patient and/or Problem: How do you describe the patients, people or the problem that you’re looking at?
• I – Intervention: What are you considering for an intervention, exposure or factor?
• C – Comparison: Do you have something to compare to the intervention, exposure or factor that you’re considering?
• O – Outcome: What are you hoping to measure, improve, affect or accomplish?

So, essentially, your PICO question will answer the above aspects. This type of clinical question is most often used when the research is investigating evidence-based medicine or other interventions. However, the PICO question format can also be used for non-clinical settings, such as psychological interventions for school-age children, and how they relate to academic achievement.

How to Write a PICO Question

It can sometimes be a challenge to write PICO Questions, as they can be very complex. Since we are looking at evidence-based conclusions, great thought has to be put into formulating a PICO research question. Once the question has been written and clarified, it can help the researcher determine what type of study model will work best to answer the question. So, in a very real way, asking the question properly helps you select what type of study you’ll be conducting.

Fortunately, once you are comfortable with the elements of a PICO question, it almost becomes a plug and play model. For example, if you are looking at questions around prognosis, you might structure your PICO question like this:

Would ________________ (I) affect or influence _________________________ (O) with patients or people who have ___________________________________________________ (P) compared to __________________________(C)?

Another example of a PICO research question might include an inquiry into prevention:

With ___________________ (P) does the practice or use of ________________________ (I) reduce or prevent risk of __________________________(O), compared with __________________________(C)?

What is a PEO Question?

A PEO research question focuses on non-numerical data, or qualitative research. Here, relationships and associations are explored. For example, a PEO question can try to explore whether there is a correlation between taking baby aspirin and a lowered risk of heart attacks.

PEO stands for:

• Population: Who are you studying? Infants? Males who are between the ages of 55 and 60? Adolescent females?
• Exposure: What is your population exposed to? Baby aspirin? Soy supplements? Peanuts?
• Outcome: What is the result of the exposure on your population? Lowered risk for heart attacks? Food allergies? Increased menstrual cramps?

How to Write a PEO Question

Writing a PEO question isn’t generally as complex as writing a PICO question, since you’re only looking at what population, what they’re exposed to, and what your expected outcome is. For example, if you’re looking at food allergies in infants, your PEO question might look like this:

In infants between the age of 6 to 9 months (P), is there an association between exposure to micro-doses of common food allergens (E) and reduced childhood food allergies? (O)

Similar questions can be explored this way:

In or with ___________________ (P), will ________________________(E) result in _________________________ (O)?

Using PICO and PEO Research Questions for Literature Reviews of Searching

Just as you might utilize PICO and PEO question formatting for designing your research, you can also tap into their formats when you’re looking for previous studies on your topic of interest. For example, if you are looking for information on dietary interventions and type 2 diabetes reversal, you can use keywords related to the formulation of a research question:

P: Individuals with type 2 diabetes E: Mediterranean Diet O: Reversal of type 2 diabetes

To find research related to the above question, you would pull out keywords, like:

“type 2 diabetes,” “reversal” and “Mediterranean Diet”

Clinical Question Formats

There are a wide variety of clinical question formats, in addition to PICO and PEO. These can include PICO(T), which adds a “time-frame” ingredient, and (P)PICO if your population is more complex, like white males, age 50-55.

The bottom line is that an effective clinical research question needs to be relevant to the patient or problem, and worded in a way that it’s easy for those looking for your research to find it. If you’re designing a research project, starting with an effective and well-written clinical research question is a critical first step.

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NURS 3290: Nursing Research 2 - BSN Program

• Accessing and Navigating Databases
• Keywords and Subject Headings

Formulating a PICO(T) Question

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

• Database Options
• Keyword Searching
• Subject Heading Searching
• Search History Screen Capture
• Accessing Full-Text Articles
• VIDEO TUTORIALS
• Resources for Clinical Topic Information
• APA 7th Edition Style

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:

• What is a PICO(T) Question?  
• Ideas for your PICO(T) Question

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 template for creating a well-built clinical question for evidence-based inquiry.

P - Patient/Population/Problem

I - Intervention/Variable of Interest

C - Comparison ("standard care" or "usual care")

O - Outcome(s)

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

Your required textbook provides a wealth of material for generating and brainstorming ideas for PICO(T) Questions. 

Be sure to review Chapter 8  in your Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice  text for ideas and examples of clinical questions for EBP. 

Two copies of this book are on reserve in the Mulford Library. To use a copy in the library, please ask a staff member at the library front desk to retrieve it for you. 

Helpful web resources for PICOT question ideas can be accessed below: 

• Johns Hopkins - EBP Exemplar Library Explore this database of EBP projects completed by clinicians. Many of these projects include good examples of PICOT questions.
• PICO Questions [from University of Kansas Medical Center] This site provides examples by patient care setting under the "PICO Question Examples" section
• 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

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 a "starter" list of keywords (including synonyms) to use in a database search. Most commonly, the most important parts of a PICO(T) question for searching are the P, I, and O. 
• After developing a "starter" list of search terms, you can then begin brainstorming your search strategy for combining terms with OR or AND, and using other techniques such as a truncation (i.e. a keyword search for  letharg* will also find articles with the term lethargic or lethargy ):
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• Next: Database Options >>
• Last Updated: Sep 7, 2023 9:03 AM
• URL: https://libguides.utoledo.edu/n3290

Evidence Based Practice

• 1. Ask: PICO(T) Question
• 2. Align: Levels of Evidence
• 3a. Acquire: Resource Types
• 3b. Acquire: Searching
• 4. Appraise
• Primary vs. Secondary Sources
• Qualitative and Quantitative Sources
• Managing References

Ask: Write a focused clinical question

Use the PICOT format to break down your question into smaller parts and identify keywords:

• The Well-Built, Patient-Oriented Clinical Question Use this worksheet to break down the parts of your PICO question.

PICO Question Template Examples

It can be helpful to classify your question based on the clinical domain(s) it falls under.  

See below for definitions, PICO templates, and example questions from the primary clinical domains: intervention , diagnosis , etiology , prevention , prognosis/prediction , quality of life/meaning , and therapy .

Intervention

Questions addressing the treatment of an illness or disability.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Questions on how to reduce the chance of disease by identifying and modifying risk factors and how to diagnose disease early by screening.

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

Prognosis/Prediction

Questions addressing the prediction of the course of a disease.

Does __________ (I) influence ________ (O) in patients who have _______ (P) over ______ (T)? In _______ (P), how does ________ (I) compared to ________ (C) influence _________ (O) over _________ (T)?

Quality of Life/Meaning

Questions addressing how one experiences a phenomenon.

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

Questions around how to select treatments to offer our patients that do more good than harm and that are worth the efforts and costs of using them.

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

Source1 Source2 Source3  

Click "Next" below to start your research.

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• Last Updated: Nov 9, 2023 12:14 PM
• URL: https://libraryguides.nau.edu/evidencebasedpractice

Nursing Research: PICO Clinical Questions

• PICO Clinical Questions
• Levels of Evidence
• Nursing Databases

PICO is an acronym for the four elements that every well-designed clinical question must have when researching evidence-based practices. 

Creating an effective search strategy with pico, there are four key elements required for an effective pico question..

P: Population / Patient

• Who or What?  Patient, Population, Problem.
• How would you describe a group of patients similar to your group?
• What are the most important characteristics of the patient?  Primary problem; disease; co-existing conditions.
• Consider sex, age and/or race of a patient as this may be relevant to the diagnosis or treatment of a disease.

 I: Intervention / Indicator

• Intervention, prognostic factor or exposure - Drug, procedure, diagnostic test, exposure.
• Which main intervention, prognostic factor, exposure are you considering?
• What do you want to do for the patient? Prescribe a drug? Order a test? Order surgery?
• What factor might influence the prognosis of the patient? Age; co-existing problems.
• What exposure has the patient experienced? Asbestos; cigarette smoke.

  C: Comparator / Control

• What is the main alternative?  Comparison or intervention?
• What is the main alternative to compare with the intervention?
• Are you trying to decide between? Two drugs; a drug and no medication or placebo; two diagnostic tests.
• Your clinical question may not always need a specific comparison.

  O: Outcome

• What are you trying to accomplish, measure, improve, effect, achieve?
• What can you hope to accomplish measure, improve or affect?
• What are you trying to do for the patient? Relieve or eliminate the symptoms; reduce the number of adverse events; improve function or test scores.

Clinical problem: A patient asks if drinking carrot juice will reduce the likelihood of developing prostate cancer.

Answerable clinical question:

P - In males

I - Does drinking carrot juice

C - Compared to not drinking carrot juice

O - Reduce the incidence of prostate cancer

Created by Katrina Henderson at Griffith University

Shared under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license

DiCesno, A., Bayley, L., & Haynes, B. (2009). Accessing pre-appraised evidence: fine-tuning the 5S model into a 6S model. Evidence Based Nursing, 12 (4). https://doi.org/10.1136/ebn.12.4.99-b

eHealth NSW. (2018). Clinical Information Access Portal (CIAP) EBP Learning Modules. https://www.ciap.health.nsw.gov.au/training/ebp-learning-modules/module1/index.html

Glossary of basic statistical terms

Null and alternative hypothesis.

The null and alternative hypotheses are two competing claims that researchers weigh evidence for and against using a statistical test:

• Null hypothesis: There’s no effect in the population.
• Alternative hypothesis: There’s an effect in the population.

(Scribbr, May 6, 2022. Learn more...)

Dependent and Independent Variables

In research, variables are any characteristics that can take on different values, such as height, age, temperature, or test scores. Researchers often manipulate or measure independent and dependent variables in studies to test cause-and-effect relationships.

• The independent variable is the cause. Its value is independent of other variables in your study.
• The dependent variable is the effect. Its value depends on changes in the independent variable.

(Scribbr, Dec. 2, 2022. Learn more...)

Subject variables

Subject variables are characteristics that vary across participants, and they can’t be manipulated by researchers. For example, gender identity, ethnicity, race, income, and education are all important subject variables that social researchers treat as independent variables.

P - In males (independent subject variable)

I - Does drinking carrot juice (independent variable)

C - Compared to not drinking carrot juice (independent variable)

O - Reduce the incidence of prostate cancer (dependent variable)

Bhandari, P. (2022, December 02). Independent vs. Dependent Variables | Definition & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/independent-and-dependent-variables/

More information on statistical analysis can be found on the Scribbr website: The Beginner's Guide to Statistical Analysis | 5 Steps & Examples  on scribbr.com.

Video Tutorials - Researching Evidence Based Practices

Researching evidence based practices is key to nursing education. These video tutorials provide a step-by-step approach for doing nursing research at Bushnell University.   

• The PICO Question Part 1 of 3. Defining and developing a PICO Question. (4:30)
• Turning PICO Questions into Keywords Part 2 of 3. Using a PICO Question to develop keywords for searching the databases. (6:21)
• Searching CINAHL and MEDLINE Part 3 of 3. Navigating to and getting ready to search the databases. (5:41)
• Using CINAHL and MEDLINE effectively After navigating to the databases, how do you search them effectively? (12:41)
• FEEDBACK FORM Please provide feedback on each video tutorial that you view. The form takes about 2 minutes to complete. Thank you!

Search Strategies

• PICO Keyword Chart Making a PICO question into keywords for database searching with Boolean operators. (blank)

PICOT Research Question Generator

• PICOT Question Generator The PICOT Research Question Generator will help researchers create valid research questions using the PICOT framework. more... less... Created by Eric Heidel, PhD, PStat, Associate Professor of Biostatistics at theUniversity of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine.
• Next: Levels of Evidence >>
• Last Updated: Mar 26, 2024 11:25 AM
• URL: https://bushnell.libguides.com/nursing

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