picot questions examples

Before we dive in to PICOT questions, let us first understand what is a PICOT question. PICOT is an acronym for Patient problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Timeframe. Simply put, a PICOT question is a clinical question which creates a framework for developing evidence-based practice projects. This type of question attempts to identify the best available research to answer the specific clinical question.

Not all research questions can be answered using the PICOT format, but this format can be helpful when trying to narrow down a researchable question. The PICOT acronym stands for:

P-Patient or population (characteristics):

The patient or population in question can be anything from a specific disease or group of patients, to a certain age group, to a certain gender. When developing a PICOT question, it is important to identify as many relevant patient characteristics as possible. This will help to ensure that the research question is as specific as possible.

I-Intervention- The intervention can be anything from a specific drug or treatment, to a certain behavior or lifestyle change. When developing a PICOT question, it is important to identify as many relevant interventions as possible. This will help to ensure that the research question is as specific as possible.

C- Comparison/control- When developing a PICOT question, it is important to identify as many relevant comparisons as possible. This will help to ensure that the research question is as specific as possible. For example, if you are interested in studying the effectiveness of a new drug for treating a particular disease, you would want to compare the new drug to the current standard of care. Or, if you are interested in studying the effect of a new behavior modification program on weight loss, you would want to compare the new program to a control group that does not receive the intervention.

O- Outcome- The outcome is the final result of the intervention. When developing a PICOT question, it is important to identify as many relevant outcomes as possible. This will help to ensure that the research question is as specific as possible. For example, if you are interested in studying the effectiveness of a new drug for treating a particular disease, you would want to know what the final outcome is (i.e. does the drug cure the disease, reduce symptoms, etc.). Or, if you are interested in studying the effect of a new behavior modification program on weight loss, you would want to know how much weight participants lose over time.

T- Time frame- The timeframe is the length of time over which the intervention is taking place. When developing a PICOT question, it is important to identify as many relevant timeframes as possible. This will help to ensure that the research question is as specific as possible. For example, if you are interested in studying the effect of a new behavior modification program on weight loss, you would want to know how long participants are required to participate in the program.

We will try and share some of picot questions examples which have not been used before.

evidence based PICOT questions examples

Now that we know what a PICOT question is and what the acronym stands for, let us take a look at some evidence-based PICOT questions.

Population is overweight adults with type 2 diabetes

intervention is a low-carbohydrate diet

comparison is a standard diet

outcome is weight loss,

time frame is 6 months.

PICOT question : In patients with type 2 diabetes, does a low-carbohydrate diet result in greater weight loss at 6 months than a standard diet?

Population: pregnant women

intervention: magnesium sulfate

comparison: no magnesium sulfate

outcome: cerebral palsy in infants

time frame: up to 6 years after delivery.

PICOT question :

Problem: In pregnant women, does magnesium sulfate given prior to anticipated preterm delivery reduce the risk of cerebral palsy in their infants compared to no magnesium sulfate?

Intervention picot questions examples

intervention PICOT questions are used to determine which treatment leads to the best outcome.

Example of an intervention PICOT question is:

In -(P)

how does- (I)

compared to- (C)

affect -(O)

within- (T)

example picot question:

In elderly patients with type-2 diabetes, how does metformin compare to insulin in terms of blood sugar control over a period of six months?

This PICOT question is asking about the best treatment for elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. The intervention is metformin and the comparison is insulin. The outcome is blood sugar control and the time frame is six months.

Another example of an intervention PICOT question is:

In -(P)

how does- (I)

compared to- (C)

affect -(O)

within- (T) picot question: In children with ADHD, how does medication compared to behavioral therapy affect school performance within the first year of treatment?

This PICOT question is asking about the best treatment for children with ADHD. The intervention is medication and the comparison is behavioral therapy. The outcome is school performance and the time frame is within the first year of treatment.

picot questions can also be used to compare two different interventions.

An example of a picot question comparing two interventions is:

In -(P)

how do- (I)

compared to- (C)

affect -(O)

within- (T) picot question: In women who are pregnant with twins, how does bed rest compare to no bed rest in terms of reducing the risk of preterm labor?

This picot question is asking about the best way to reduce the risk of preterm labor in women who are pregnant with twins. The two interventions being compared are bed rest and no bed rest. The outcome is preterm labor and the time frame is the length of the pregnancy.

picot questions can also be used to compare two different populations.

An example of a picot question comparing two populations is:

In -(P)

how does- (I)

compared to- (C)

affect -(O)

within- (T) picot question: In children with autism, how does early intervention compared to no intervention affect communication skills within the first year of treatment?

This picot question is asking about the best way to improve communication skills in children with autism. The two populations being compared are children who receive early intervention and children who do not receive any intervention. The outcome is communication skills and the time frame is within the first year of treatment.

Etiology picot questions examples

Etiology. In this type of a question, it aims to determine the greatest risk factors causes of a condition.

Are- (P)

Who have -(I)

Compare to those -(C)

At-risk for-(O)

over-(T)

example picot question:

Are- (P)

People Who have -(I)

High Blood pressure-(C)

At-risk for-(O)

Heart Disease-(T) picot question: Are people who have high blood pressure at greater risk for heart disease than people with normal blood pressure?

This picot question is asking about the risk factors for heart disease. The population is people with high blood pressure and the comparison group is people with normal blood pressure. The outcome is heart disease and the time frame is unspecified.

Another example of an etiology picot question is:

Are- (P)

Women Who have -(I)

Gestational diabetes-(C)

At-risk for-(O)

Type 2 diabetes-(T) picot question: Are women who have gestational diabetes at greater risk for type 2 diabetes than women who do not have gestational diabetes?

This picot question is asking about the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The population is women with gestational diabetes and the comparison group is women without gestational diabetes. The outcome is type 2 diabetes and the time frame is unspecified.

picot questions can also be used to compare two different populations.

An example of a picot question comparing two populations is:

Are- (P)

Smokers Who have -(I)

Lung Cancer-(C)

More likely to- (O)

Die from-(T) picot question: Are smokers who have lung cancer more likely to die from lung cancer than nonsmokers who have lung cancer?

This picot question is asking about the risk factors for death from lung cancer. The population is smokers with lung cancer and the comparison group is nonsmokers with lung cancer. The outcome is death from lung cancer and the time frame is unspecified.

picot questions can also be used to compare two different treatments.

An example of a picot question comparing two treatments is:

Does- (P)

Medication A-(I)

Compared to-(C)

Medication B-(O)

Result in-(T) picot question: Does medication A, compared to medication B, result in better control of blood pressure within the first month of treatment?

This picot question is asking about the best way to control blood pressure. The two treatments being compared are medication A and medication B. The outcome is blood pressure and the time frame is within the first month of treatment.

picot questions can also be used to compare two different interventions.

An example of a picot question comparing two interventions is:

In -(P)

how does- (I)

compared to- (C)

affect -(O)

within- (T) picot question: In children with autism, how does early intervention compared to no intervention affect communication skills within the first year of treatment?

This picot question is asking about the best way to improve communication skills in children with autism. The two populations being compared are children who receive early intervention and children who do not receive any intervention. The outcome is communication skills and the time frame is within the first year of treatment.

picot questions can also be used to compare two different outcomes.

An example of a picot question comparing two outcomes is:

In -(P)

how does- (I)

compared to- (C)

affect -(O)

within- (T) picot question: In patients with heart failure, how does treatment with medication A compared to treatment with medication B affect hospitalization rates within the first year of treatment?

This picot question is asking about the best way to treat heart failure. The two treatments being compared are medication A and medication B. The outcome is hospitalization rates and the time frame is within the first year of treatment.

picot questions can also be used to compare two different groups of people.

An example of a picot question comparing two groups of people is:

Do- (P)

Women-(I)

Compared to-(C)

Men-(O)

Have a greater risk for-(T) picot question: Do women, compared to men, have a greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease?

This picot question is asking about the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. The population is women and the comparison group is men. The outcome is Alzheimer’s disease and the time frame is unspecified.

Diagnosis/diagnostic test picot questions examples

diagnosis or diagnostic test is used to determine which test is more accurate and precise in diagnosing a condition.

In-(P)

Is/are-(I)

Compared with-(C)

more accurate in diagnosing- (O)

example picot question: In patients with symptoms of heart failure, is echocardiography compared with magnetic resonance imaging more accurate in diagnosing the cause of the symptoms?

This picot question is asking about the best way to diagnose heart failure. The two tests being compared are echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. The outcome is the cause of the symptoms and the time frame is unspecified.

picot questions can also be used to compare two different risk factors.

An example of a picot question comparing two risk factors is:

Do- (P)

Patients with- (I)

Compared to-(C)

Patients without-(O)

Have a greater risk for-(T) picot question: Do patients with diabetes, compared to patients without diabetes, have a greater risk for developing heart disease?

This picot question is asking about the risk factors for heart disease. The population is patients with diabetes and the comparison group is patients without diabetes. The outcome is heart disease and the time frame is unspecified.

picot questions can also be used to compare two different treatments.

An example of a picot question comparing two treatments is:

In -(P)

Does- (I)

Compared to- (C)

result in more/fewer-(O)

within- (T) picot question: In patients with heart failure, does treatment with medication A compared to treatment with medication B result in more hospitalizations within the first year of treatment?

This picot question is asking about the best way to treat heart failure. The two treatments being compared are medication A and medication B. The outcome is hospitalization rates and the time frame is within the first year of treatment.

Prognosis/prediction picot questions examples

Prognosis or prediction is used to determine the clinical course and over time and the likely complications of a condition.

In -(P)

how does-(I)

compared with-(C)

Influence-(O)

Over-(T)

example picot question: In patients with heart failure, how does treatment with medication A compared with treatment with no treatment influence mortality rates over five years?

This picot question is asking about the best way to treat heart failure. The two treatments being compared are medication A and no treatment. The outcome is mortality rates and the time frame is over five years.

picot questions can also be used to compare two different interventions.

An example of a picot question comparing two interventions is:

In-(P)

Does- (I)

Compared to-(C)

Result in more/fewer-(O)

within-(T) picot question: In patients with heart failure, does treatment with medication A compared to treatment with lifestyle changes result in more hospitalizations within the first year of treatment?

This picot question is asking about the best way to treat heart failure. The two interventions being compared are medication A and lifestyle changes. The outcome is hospitalization rates and the time frame is within the first year of treatment.

Prevention is used to determine if one intervention is better than another at preventing a condition from occurring.

In-(P)

Does-(I)

Compared to-(C)

Result in less/fewer-(O)

Occurrences of-(T) picot question: In patients with heart failure, does treatment with medication A compared to treatment with no treatment result in fewer hospitalizations within the first year of treatment?

This picot question is asking about the best way to prevent hospitalizations for heart failure. The two interventions being compared are medication A and no treatment. The outcome is the number of hospitalizations and the time frame is within the first year of treatment.

Meaning picot questions examples

meaning which is used to determine the meaning of an experience for an individual or a group or a community.

How do-(P)

With- (I)

perceive -(C)

during-(T)

example picot question: How do patients with heart failure perceive their quality of life during treatment?

This picot question is asking about the patient’s experience with heart failure. The population is patients with heart failure and the comparison group is unspecified. The outcome is quality of life and the time frame is during treatment.

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