PICO is a mnemonic that helps you formulate a specific, answerable clinical or research question.
P = Patient (population or problem) - Who or what are you studying?
I = Intervention - What is the diagnostic test, treatment or therapy? Or what are the prognostic factors or exposures?
C = Comparison - What are you measuring this intervention against?
O = Outcome(s) - What are you trying to accomplish, measure, improve or effect?
Learn more about the role of PICO in evidence-based practice.