The PICO process (or framework) is a mnemonic used in evidence-based practice (and specifically evidence-based medicine) to frame and answer a clinical or health care related question, [1] though it is also argued that PICO "can be used universally for every scientific endeavour in any discipline with all study designs". [2] The PICO framework is also used to develop literature search strategies, for instance in systematic reviews. [3]
The PICO acronym has come to stand for: [4] [5]
An application that covers clinical questions about interventions, as well as exposures, risk/ prognostic factors, and test accuracy, is: [7] [8]
Alternatives such as SPICE and PECO (among many others) can also be used. Some authors suggest adding T and S, as follows:
It was argued that PICO may be useful for every scientific endeavor even beyond clinical settings. [2] This proposal is based on a more abstract view of the PICO mnemonic, equating them with four components that is inherent to every single research, namely (1) research object; (2) application of a theory or method; (3) alternative theories or methods (or the null hypothesis); and (4) the ultimate goal of knowledge generation.
PICO component | Abstract component inherent to all research designs |
---|---|
Problem | Research object |
Intervention | Application of a theory or method |
Comparison | Alternative theories or methods (or, in their absence, the null hypothesis) |
Outcome | Knowledge generation |
This proposition would imply that the PICO technique could be used for teaching academic writing even beyond medical disciplines.
Clinical question: "In children with headache, is paracetamol more effective than placebo against pain?"
Pubmed (health research database) search strategy: children headache paracetamol placebo pain
Clinical question: "Is the risk of having breast cancer higher in symptom-free women with a positive mammography compared to symptom-free women with a negative mammography?" [8]
The PICO process (or framework) is a mnemonic used in evidence-based practice (and specifically evidence-based medicine) to frame and answer a clinical or health care related question, [1] though it is also argued that PICO "can be used universally for every scientific endeavour in any discipline with all study designs". [2] The PICO framework is also used to develop literature search strategies, for instance in systematic reviews. [3]
The PICO acronym has come to stand for: [4] [5]
An application that covers clinical questions about interventions, as well as exposures, risk/ prognostic factors, and test accuracy, is: [7] [8]
Alternatives such as SPICE and PECO (among many others) can also be used. Some authors suggest adding T and S, as follows:
It was argued that PICO may be useful for every scientific endeavor even beyond clinical settings. [2] This proposal is based on a more abstract view of the PICO mnemonic, equating them with four components that is inherent to every single research, namely (1) research object; (2) application of a theory or method; (3) alternative theories or methods (or the null hypothesis); and (4) the ultimate goal of knowledge generation.
PICO component | Abstract component inherent to all research designs |
---|---|
Problem | Research object |
Intervention | Application of a theory or method |
Comparison | Alternative theories or methods (or, in their absence, the null hypothesis) |
Outcome | Knowledge generation |
This proposition would imply that the PICO technique could be used for teaching academic writing even beyond medical disciplines.
Clinical question: "In children with headache, is paracetamol more effective than placebo against pain?"
Pubmed (health research database) search strategy: children headache paracetamol placebo pain
Clinical question: "Is the risk of having breast cancer higher in symptom-free women with a positive mammography compared to symptom-free women with a negative mammography?" [8]