PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome)

2 min read

clinvar

Student Project done by:

  • Chan Ching Yuen
  • Yau Ka Kit, Danny
  • Cheung Tsz Chung, Derek
  • Tang Hoi Man, Simon

Their slides can be downloaded here

The PICO is a technique used in evidence based practice to frame and answer a clinical or health care related question. The PICO framework is also used to develop literature search strategies. The PICO acronym stands for

  • P – patient, problem or population
  • I – intervention
  • C – comparison, control or comparator[5]
  • O – outcome

clinvar Official Website

evidence-based medicine (EBM)

The paradigm of evidence-based medicine (EBM) recommends that physicians formulate clinical questions in terms of the problem/population, intervention, comparison, and outcome.

5 Steps of EBM:

  1. Ask question.
  2. Search
  3. Critically appraise
  4. Implement
  5. Evaluate

Advantages of EBM:

  • Helps clinicians stay current on standardized, evidence-based protocols.
  • Uses near real-time data to make care decisions.
  • Improves transparency, accountability, and value.
  • Improves quality of care.
  • Improves outcomes.

Introduction of P.I.C.O

PATIENT OR PROBLEM

  • What are the patient’s demographics such as age, gender and ethnicity?
  • what is the or problem type?
  • How would you describe a group of patients similar to yours?
  • What are the most important characteristics of the patient?
  • Example: Work-related neck muscle pain

INTERVENTION, EXPOSURE, PROGNOSTIC FACTOR

  • Which main intervention, prognostic factor, or exposure am I considering?
  • What type of intervention is being considered?
  • Is this a medication of some type, or exercise, or rest?
  • Example: Strength training of the painful muscle

COMPARISON OR CONTROL

  • What is the main alternative to compare with the intervention?
  • Is there a camparison treatment to be considered?
  • The comparison may be with another medication, another form of treatment such as exercise or no treatment
  • Example: Rest

OUTCOME

  • What can I hope to accomplish, measure, improve, or affect?
  • What would be the desired effect you would like to see?
  • What effects are not wanted?
  • Are there any side effects involved with this form of testing or treatment?
  • Example: Pain relief


How to use and Case Study could be found in the student project.

Image Citation

Top

bms4001_p2

Related