Selection of Proposed EBP Project Proposal, Rationale, and PICO(T) Question

Your PICO question must address questions related to
nursing and improving patient outcomes. Questions that are outside the
scope of nursing practice are not acceptable. Examples of not acceptable
PICO’s for this course: comparison of drug efficacy, diagnostic
procedures and surgical procedures that do not directly related to
nursing and improved patient outcomes. Remember, your PICO must be
within the scope of nursing practice at a BS level.

Limit the scope of your PICO question to aid in identifying
key words, assisting in searching, and helping identify the “keeper”
studies.

Recognize there are many Hierarchies of Evidence, Levels of
Evidence schematics, and Grading of Evidence. The important point is
that you cite the source you are using. For this course, we recommend
the information in the AJN “Steps” series to avoid confusion.

Use the template provided in the readings to develop your
question. Most questions will be of a quantitative nature. Qualitative
questions (the meaning or experience of…) i.e. much more difficult to
complete in five weeks.

Question
Templates
for
Asking
PICO
Questions (Melnyk B. & Fineout-Overholt E. (2011).
Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare. New York:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)

Question Templates for Asking PICO Questions (Melnyk B. & Fineout-Overholt E. (2005).
Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)

P: Population/disease ( i.e. age, gender, ethnicity, with a certain disorder)
I: Intervention or Variable of Interest (exposure to a disease, risk
behavior, prognostic factor) C: Comparison: (could be compared to
current standard practice)
O: Outcome: (risk of disease, accuracy of a diagnosis, rate of occurrence of adverse outcome)

(T): over what period of time, ( ie, within 6 months). This is an optional component.

PICO Template:

For an intervention/effect/therapy:

In (P), what is the effectiveness of (I) compared with (C)? on the (O) within (T)

For etiology:

Are (P) who have (I) at (Increased/decreased) risk for/of (O) compared with (P) with/without (C)?

Diagnosis or diagnostic test: (Must be within the scope of RN-BS practice)

Are (is) (I) more accurate in diagnosing (P) compared with
(C) for (O)?

Prevention:

For (P) does the use of (I) reduce the future risk of (O) compared with (C)?

Prognosis:

Does (I) influence (O) in patients who have (P)?

Meaning:

How do (P) diagnosed with (I) experience (O)?

Examples of Evidence-Based PICO Questions

Intervention/Effect/Therapy PICO Question: An example: In adult
patients with total hip replacements (Patient population) how effective
is early ambulation (Intervention of interest) compared to bedrest
(Comparison intervention) on decreasing post-op DVTs (Outcome)?
Note: The question may also be stated as What is the effectiveness of
early ambulation, compared to bedrest, on decreasing post-op DVTs n
adult patients with total hip replacements.