Using PICOS to Ask Your Question
PICOS is an mnemonic for Patient Population or Problem, Intervention (treatment/test), Comparison (group or treatment), Outcomes, and Setting or Study type. PICOT is also used where the T stands for Time.
Various templates and web pages have been developed to help you frame your question. "Asking Answerable Questions" University of Illinois' page is one model. Melynik and Fineout-Overhold use:
Fill in the blanks with information from your clinical scenario:
THERAPY
In_______________, what is the effect of ________________on _______________ compared with _________________?
ETIOLOGY
Are ______________ who have _______________ at ______________ risk for/of ____________ compared with
Above information from "Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: a guide to best practice" by Bernadette M. Melnyk and Ellen Fineout-Overholt. 2005, page 31.