Step 1 of Evidence-Based Practice is defining the research question. Use the PICO format to write a focused clinical question.

1. Anatomy of a Good Research Question
PICO is a focused clinical question that consists of 3 or 4 of
these concepts. Writing a PICO question facilitates the
search process and identification of best evidence.
•P
(Patient problem/characteristics)
•I
(Intervention)
•C
(Comparison Intervention, where applicable)
•O
(Outcome)
Examples

2. PICO Example 1
With a comparison (C)
In a 30-year old male patient diagnosed with
depression (P), is St. John’s Wort (I) as effective as
SSRIs (C) for reducing depressive symptoms (O)?
•P
(Patient problem/characteristics)
•I
(Intervention)
•C
(Comparison Intervention, where applicable)
•O
(Outcome)
Example

3. PICO Example 2
Without a comparison (C)
In adults with back pain (P), does yoga therapy (I) (C)
reduce pain (O)?
•P
(Patient problem/characteristics)
•I
(Intervention)
•C
(Comparison Intervention, where applicable)
•O
(Outcome)