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Nursing: Doctor of Nursing Practice

This guide provides information on library resources for students in the DNP degree program.

PICO(T) Research Overview

PICO(T) Research in 5 minutes:

  1. Creating a PICO Question
  2. Formulating a Research Strategy
  3. Locating the best Evidence

Effectiveness Questions: PICO(T)

P = Population / Patient / Problem: Group of people or issue of concern 
I = Intervention: Treatment or action taken 
C = Comparison / Control:  A different intervention OR control group (usual care / no intervention)
O = Outcome: Specific effect(s) of the intervention or what matters to the nurse and patient
T = Timeframe (if applicable)

Meaningfulness Questions: PICo(T)

P = Population: The group of people that are of concern in the question
I = Phenomenon of Interest: Events or experiences being studied 
Co = Context: Primary conditions and background circumstances involved
T = Timeframe (if applicable)

PICO(T) Question Tips & Templates

Tips & Reminders for Writing PICO Questions:

  • PICO(T) questions do not have to be written in P-I-C-O order. 
  • Time (T) is optional for PICO questions; use T if a specific timeframe limitation will help you answer your PICO question.
  • Comparison is not required for PICO(T) questions; if you are comparing an intervention or phenomenon with usual care or a control group, e.g. comparing intervention vs. no intervention taken, you do not have to include a Comparison element in the question unless it improves clarity.
  • If you are Comparing two different interventions, these are your primary variables for the study and as such they need to be related and measurable against each other. Using the scientific method, you want to make sure you are comparing "apples to apples" in order for your conclusions to be valid and unbiased. 

Intervention/Therapy Effectiveness Template:

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

In _______(P), how effective is _______(I) compared with _______(C) on ______(O) over ________ (T)?

Etiology Template:

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

Diagnosis or Diagnostic Test Template:

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

Prevention:

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

Prognosis/Predictions Template:

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

Meaning Template:

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

 - Adapted from Melnyk B., & Fineout-Overholt E. (2010). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

PICO(T) Question Examples

Intervention/Effect/Therapy PICO Question example:

In adult patients with total hip replacements (P) how effective is early ambulation (I) compared to bed rest (C) on decreasing post-op DVTs (O)?

Or it could be phrased like this:

What is the effectiveness of early ambulation (I), compared to bed rest (C), on decreasing post-op DVTs (O) in adult patients with total hip replacements (P)?

Meaning PICo Question example:

How do pregnant women (P) newly diagnosed with diabetes (I) experience reporting their blood sugar levels (Co) to their healthcare providers?