Nursing

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Formulating a PICOT question is the first step in the process of carrying out a focused literature review and analysis of evidence.

PICOT is an acronym for the elements of the clinical question: a way of asking a clinical question that will help guide the search for evidence.

P = Patient population of interest: Identify patients by age, gender, ethnicity, disease or health problem

I = Intervention of interest (can also be issue of interest that has no comparison): Which intervention is worthwhile to use in practice? Which issue is studied (e.g. a treatment, diagnostic test, prognostic factor)?

C = Comparison of interest (you do not always have a comparison): What is the usual standard of care or current intervention used now in practice?

O = Outcome: What results do you wish to achieve or observe as a result of an intervention (e.g. change in patient behavior, physical findings, patient perception)?

T = Time (you do not always have a time frame): What amount of time is needed for an intervention to achieve an outcome (e.g. the amount of time needed to change quality of life or patient behavior)?

Example:
"How effective is the consumption of low glycemic index foods for reducing energy intake and promoting weight loss in adults?

The scenario will help you to develop a PICOT Question: 

Scenario: A 47 year old woman comes to see you. She is overweight, concerned about her overall health, and would like to lose weight quickly. She has heard a report on the radio suggesting that resistant corn or potato starch can reduce obesity. You begin to investigate any evidence to support this.

Population: overweight adults

Intervention: resistant starch

Comparison: ordinary starch

Outcome: weight loss

Time: N/A

PICOT Question: In overweight adults, how does resistant starch compared with ordinary starch effect weight loss?