PICO and citing

Background question

Simpler questions about a disorder or health state, diagnostic test, treatment/intervention

-Question to demonstrate cause and effect

-Centered on a single aspect of information presented

Foreground question

Complex clinical questions

-Detailed in describing the prominent components of the case: PICO

P in PICO

Patient / Problem / Population

-Group of people being addressed

I in PICO

Intervention

-Primary treatment / diagnostic test / preventative measure being evaluated , like medications or surgical procedures

C in PICO

Comparison

-Main alternative benchmark to compare against the intervention

-May include all standards of care, an alternative medication / treatment, placebo, or no intervention

O in PCIO

Outcome

-Specific clinical result, health effect, or measure of success being evaluated

Population

Age, race, sex

-Clinical setting

-Comorbidities

-Geographic location

Intervention / comparison

Anything that can be done to or for a patient

Outcome

Effective HOW?

-Focus on patient-oriented outcomes, like morbidity, mortality, symptom improvement, coat, quality of life