Example
Population: young women with dysmenorrhea
Intervention: acupressure
Comparison: no intervention
Outcome: relief from painful uterine contractions
PICO Search Strategy Form
This form will help you develop your PICO question and document your search methodology. It is far easier to write up the methodology section of your paper when you have notes about your searches along the way, rather than trying to recreate how you found the journal articles (what search terms were used and what databases were searched). So whether it is this tool or another, take notes as you look for your evidence-based nursing articles.
PICO Research Question
The PICO method, sometimes called the PICOT method*, is a format for posing a clinical research question. Each letter in PICO stands for an important aspect of the question.
P - Population
What is the problem and who does this affect? What are the characteristics of the affected population?
I - Intervention
What treatment, therapy, or other intervention is being considered to treat the problem?
C - Comparison
What treatment, therapy, or other intervention (or lack of intervention) will be compared to the main intervention?
O - Outcome
What is the outcome achieved when the main intervention is applied as compared to the alternative?
* In the PICOT version of this method, the T stands for time. This aspect is optional and may be included in your research if it is significant to your clinical research question.
Evidence-Based Nursing Research Pyramid
