PICO: Creating a PICO Query
Describes the PICO interface and how to use it effectively.
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CINAHL Guide
- PICO Printable GuideA pdf printable guide for the PICO interface
Creating a PICO Query
Begin with your research question, such as:
In adults with chronic migraine pain, will meditation or relaxation exercises manage pain better than major over-the-counter pain relievers?
PICO, an acronym for "patient, intervention, comparison, outcome," is a technique for formulating a question and inputting it into medical databases, such as Medline or CINAHL. It helps you think more clearly and input a better query. Some databases have a PICO interface, such as Medline. Others, like CINAHL, do not.
| Definition | Description |
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| P=Patient or Problem | Adults with chronic migraine pain |
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| I=Intervention | Meditation or relaxation exercises |
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| C=Comparative intention | Over-the-counter pain relievers |
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| O=Outcome | manage pain |
Now expand on your ideas with additional terms, as able. Consider synonyms or specific drugs, procedures, etc.
| Definition | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| P=Patient or Problem | Adults with chronic migraine pain | Chronic migraine |
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| I=Intervention | Meditation or relaxation exercises | Meditation or relaxation or biofeedback |
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| C=Comparative intention | Over-the-counter pain relievers | Aspirin or ibuprofen or naproxen or acetaminophen |
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| O=Outcome | manage pain | pain management or pain control |
