PICO question
Pronunciation: PEE-koh
Also written as: PICO — Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
A structured format for formulating clinical research questions that guides evidence-based practice searches.
Full Definition
A PICO question is a framework used in evidence-based practice to formulate clear, answerable clinical questions by defining four key components: Population or Patient (who is the question about), Intervention (what treatment or approach), Comparison (alternative treatment or control), and Outcome (what results are expected). In occupational therapy, PICO questions help practitioners systematically search for and evaluate research evidence to inform clinical decision-making. This structured approach ensures that literature searches are focused and relevant, leading to more effective integration of research evidence into practice decisions.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize PICO when referring to the framework. May be extended to PICOT (adding Time) in some contexts.
In Context
- "The PICO question guided the systematic review of constraint-induced movement therapy effectiveness." — Evidence-based practice documentation
- "Developing a clear PICO question improved the focus of the literature search strategy." — Research methodology report