School of Health Sciences and Social Work www.port.ac.uk/shssw

Asking Answerable Questions – PICO / PECO

Component Key step Example Activity (fill in the components of the question below)

Patient Problem population

How would I succinctly describe a group of similar patients?

In children under 12 years with condition X…

Intervention / Exposure (test, treatment, process of care)

What is the main action I am considering?

…would adding drug Y to their current therapy…

Comparison or alternative

What is/are the other options?

…compared to increasing the dose of their current therapy…

Outcome What do I/the patients want or not want to happen?

… lead to increased symptom control with no increase in side effects?

Question:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..................................................................

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Adapted from: Sackett D.L. et al (1997) Evidence Based Medicine – how to practice and teach EBM. New York: Churchill Livingstone.