Library Research

The PICO framework is powerful for developing focused, searchable clinical questions commonly used in health sciences research. PICO stands for Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome—four essential components to structure your research question effectively.

1. Patient/Problem: Identify the patient group or problem. Consider specifics like age, gender, or any defining characteristics.
2. Intervention: Define the primary treatment, diagnostic test, or exposure you’re investigating.
3. Comparison: Identify an alternative for comparison, if applicable (e.g., another treatment, placebo, or no intervention).
4. Outcome: Specify the outcomes you hope to measure or achieve, such as symptom relief or improved quality of life.

Using PICO will streamline your search process, making finding relevant, high-quality studies easier. It is particularly useful when searching databases like PubMed or within your library's resources. This method enhances search accuracy and helps students and faculty retrieve the most pertinent research for their needs.