Framing the Research Question: PICO (T)
Evidence-based models use a process for framing a question, locating, assessing, evaluating, and
repeating as needed. PICO (T) elements include:
Problem/Patient/Population, Intervention/Indicator, Comparison, Outcome,
and (optional) Time element or Type of Study.
1. Frame the question: write out your information need in the form of a question, for example:
Does hand washing among healthcare workers reduce hospital acquired infections?
The question above includes the PICO elements:
Example:
P (Problem or Patient or
Population) hospital acquired infection
I (intervention/indicator) hand washing
C (comparison) no hand washing; other solution; masks
O (outcome of interest) reduced infection
2. Plan a search strategy by identifying the major elements of your question, and translate
natural language terms to subject descriptors, MeSH terms, or descriptors.
TIP: start with the P and the I only to begin your search and keep initial search results broad:
natural language term mapped to database vocabulary
P (Problem/Patient/Population)
= hospital acquired infection
cross infection
I (intervention/indicator) = hand washing
hand disinfection
handwashing
A simple database search strategy should begin with the P AND I:
cross infection AND (Handwashing OR Hand disinfection)
Start with both CINAHL and Medline/PubMed as initial article databases for a scoping
search for most health sciences questions.
3. After viewing the initial search results you may decide to narrow your search with terms for
the Comparison, Outcome, Time factors or Type of study. Or you may view results, abstracts,
and full text of articles to view the comparison and outcome elements. Use database filters to
narrow your search.
*Heneghan, C., & Badenoch, D. (2002). Evidence-based medicine toolkit. London: BMJ Books
NYU Libraries (2017). Health (Nursing, Medicine, Allied Health): Search Strategies: Framing
the question (PICO). Retrieved from
http://libraryguides.mdc.edu/ld.php?content_id=9456107