The PICO search framework tool is commonly used to formulate clinical questions around interventions and their efficacy. The PICO letters each stand for a key concept that you'll be looking for in the literature to help you answer the question:
| P |
Patient/Population/Problem |
Start with the patient, or group of patients, or problem |
| I |
Intervention |
What is the proposed intervention? |
| C |
Comparison |
What is the main alternative, to compare with the intervention (there may not be one) |
| O |
Outcome |
What is the anticipated, or hoped-for, outcome?
|
Example - Assessment task
You are required to consider the developments in role of imaging in guiding therapy and management of either melanoma, gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumour, pancreatic endocrine tumours, merkel cell carcinoma, neuroblastoma, Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma or renal cell carcinoma. You should only choose one of these pathologies. Using a systematic approach, you will source and evaluate literature and write an evidence-based literature review that will demonstrate the clinical relevance and application of diagnostic tests (imaging and non-imaging) in improving the pathology’s outcomes and provide insight into the pathology’s treatment and management.
| P |
Patient/Population/Problem |
chosen pathology, e.g. melanoma |
| I |
Intervention |
diagnostic imaging tests |
| C |
Comparison |
non-imaging diagnostic tests |
| O |
Outcome |
improvements in the management/treatment and outcomes of your chosen pathology |
The question has been narrowed to its key elements and includes words that can be used as search terms: melanoma (or other pathology as chosen), imaging, "diagnostic tests", management OR treatment, outcomes. After placing all your concepts into the PICO framework you can then use this information to develop your clinical question.
Please note: the information provided on this page is for demonstration purposes. Please refer to your subject outline for full details and requirements of your assessment task.
