The picot method lo
- 1. The PICOT Method You can create a well-constructed research question
- 2. Learning Object Objectives When you finish reading this learning object, you should be able to: Recognize the various deconstructed parts of a PICOT statement Explain how the elements of a PICOT relate to each other Develop an appropriately-worded PICOT statement for research
- 3. What is PICOT? Population Intervention Comparison Outcome Time
- 4. POPULATION “P” stands for ‘population’ – this is the group of people about which you are inquiring. Example: Patients with cystic fibrosis
- 5. INTERVENTION “I” stands for ‘intervention’ – this is the experimental factor which will be applied to your population Example: inhaled nebulized saline
- 6. COMPARISON “C” can sometimes be implied in the statement – this is what you are comparing your intervention to. Example: No change in regular lung treatments
- 7. OUTCOME “O” stands for ‘outcome’ – with this phrase you make it clear what you are expecting or predicting to happen. Example: Increase in FEV1
- 8. TIME “T” stands for ‘time’ – some PICOT statements may include this parameter for specificity. Example: Over a six month period
- 9. Example statement In patients with cystic fibrosis, does the inclusion of a daily inhaled saline treatment over the course of six months increase FEV1 and overall lung function? Can you spot all of the elements of the PICOT? Find: P*I*C*O*T HINT: The “C” element is implied.
- 10. ASSESSMENT: CREATE YOUR OWN! Use some of these elements to create a good PICOT statement: Suicide rates Patients with depression Weekly therapy Adult diabetics Hemoglobin A1C Compliance Telehealth monitoring Cognitive therapy Pharmacological intervention Voluntary alcohol withdrawl Fish-oil enhanced nutritional supplement Stabilizing weight Patients with advanced cancer
- 11. References Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2011). e-Learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons. Hastings, C., & Fisher, C. A. (2014). Searching for proof: Creating and using an actionable PICO question. Nursing Management, 45(8), 9-12. doi:10.1097/01.NUMA.0000452006.79838.67 Stone, P. W. (2002). Popping the (PICO) question in research and evidence-based practice. Applied Nursing Research: ANR, 15(3), 197-198.