Use this handy worksheet for each topic you research. It will help you identify keywords, controlled vocabulary and the best databases to search for the topic.
An essential part of evidence-based decision making involves asking a good question. A clinical or research question can generally be broken down into four components. 'PICO' is the acronym that identifies the four components of a good research question:
Population
Intervention
Comparison
Outcome(s)
The PICO table on this page provides further explanation and examples for each of the four components.
The following links provide additional information and resources on PICO:
Introduction to PICO - UT Health, San Antonia
Forming Focused Questions with PICO - UNC Health Sciences Library
| Population |
Who or What?
Example Population: Overweight College Students |
| Intervention |
How?
Example Intervention: HIIT plus endurance training |
| Comparison |
What is the main alternative to the intervention?
Example Comparison (alternative intervention): Endurance training |
| Outcome(s) |
What are you trying to accomplish, measure or improve?
Example Outcome: Changes in percent body fat |