Nursing: Evidence-Based Practice: PICO & PICo Questions

1. Ask a clear clinical question

2. Acquire best available evidence

3. Appraise evidence for quality

4. Apply evidence to practice

5. Assess the outcomes

Forming Focused Questions with PICO

AANA List of Evidence-Based Practice Learning Modules & Tutorials

A clinical question structured using the PICO or PICo formats will help you focus your search and be essential in finding the best available evidence.

The PICO format is appropriate for questions related to the effectiveness of an intervention.  The core PICO elements are:

Population

• The group of people that are of concern in the question

Intervention

• Treatment or action that is the focus of the question 

Comparison (if applicable)

• Any other nursing intervention [an intervention, if any, to be compared against]

Outcomes

• Specific effect(s) of the intervention or what matters to the nurse and patient

The PICo format is appropriate for questions related to the meaningfulness of health-related phenomena. The core PICo elements are:

• Population
• Phenomena of interest
• Context