Subject Guides: Henry Ford Hospital Nurse Residency Library Resources Guide: PICO

PICO Resources

7 Steps to the Perfect PICO Search - EBSCO Health
This article describes using CINAHL to execute your PICO search, but the PICO building technique described applies to all databases.
Formulating the Research Question and Framing the Hypothesis Willis LD. Formulating the Research Question and Framing the Hypothesis. Respir Care. 2023 Aug;68(8):1180-1185. doi: 10.4187/respcare.10975. Epub 2023 Apr 11. PMID: 37041024; PMCID: PMC10353175.
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The aim of this paper is to provide guidance for developing research questions and forming a testable hypothesis through application of the FINER criteria and the PICO process.
Developing an Idea into a Research Question Stark, M. & Woods, B. (2023). Developing an Idea into a Research Question. Clinical Spine Surgery, 36 (1), 34-36. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000001393.
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The success of obtaining answers in any research project relies on how well the investigators are able to ask the right question. The PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes) approach provides a framework to develop this question utilizing four major elements: Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes. This paper provides a framework for both the young and the experienced surgeon in the use of the PICO approach to construct a clear research question.
Asking the Clinical Question: A Key Step in Evidence-Based Practice Stillwell, S. B., Fineout-Overholt, E., Melnyk, B. M., & Williamson, K. M. (2010). Evidence-Based Practice: Step by Step: Asking the Clinical Question: A Key Step in Evidence-Based Practice. Am J Nurs, 110(3), 58-61.

Developing a Focused Clinical Question with PICO

Starting off with a focused question will make your search for evidence easier because you'll already have an idea of your search terms. One way to form your question is to use the PICO model to define parts of your question.