PICO(T) is an acronym that helps researchers and practitioners define aspects of a potential study or investigation.
It stands for:
- P – Patient/population/problem.
- I – Intervention.
- C – Comparison (of potential interventions, typically).
- O – Outcomes.
- T – Time frame (if time frame is relevant).
The end goal of applying PICO(T) is to develop a question that can help guide the search for evidence (Boswell & Cannon, 2015). From this perspective, a PICO(T) question can be a valuable starting point for nurses who are beginning to apply an evidence-based model. By taking the time to precisely define the areas in which the nurse will be looking for evidence, searches become more efficient and effective. Essentially, by precisely defining the types of evidence within specific areas, the nurse will be more likely to discover relevant and useful evidence during their search. When applying the PICO(T) approach, the nurse can isolate the interventions of interest and compare to other existing interventions for the evidenced impact on the outcome of the concern.
Reference
Boswell, C., & Cannon, S. (2015). Introduction to nursing research. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
you will be responsible for locating and identifying credible and scholarly resources to incorporate the best available evidence for the purposes of enhancing clinical reasoning and judgement skills. When reliable and relevant evidence-based findings are utilized, patients, healthcare systems, and nursing practice outcomes are positively impacted.
PICO(T) is a framework that can help you structure your definition of the issue, potential approach that you are going to use, and your predictions related to the issue. Word choice is important in the PICO(T) process because different word choices for similar concepts will lead you toward different existing evidence and research studies that would help inform the development of your initial question. When writing a PICO(T)-formatted research question, you want to focus on the impact of the intervention and the comparison on the outcome you desire.
For this assessment, please use the diagnosis you worked with in the first two assessments.
After reviewing the materials you created to research a specific diagnosis in the first two assessments, apply the PICO(T) process to develop a research question and research it.
Your initial goal is to define the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome. In some cases, a time frame is relevant and you should include that as well, when writing a question you can research related to your issue of interest. After you define your question, research it, and organize your initial findings, select the two sources of evidence that seem the most relevant to your question and analyze them in more depth. Specifically, interpret each source’s specific findings and best practices related to your chosen diagnosis, and explain how the evidence would help you plan and make decisions related to your question.
If you need some structure to organize your initial thoughts and research, the PICO(T) Question and Library Search template (accessible from the Create PICO(T) Questions page) might be helpful.
In your submission, make sure you address the following:
- Review the PICO(T) process.
- Explain your diagnosis from Assessment 1 in terms of outcomes, risks, and complications. In your explanation, be sure to include the risks and complications for vulnerable populations or those affected by healthcare disparities and the impact of those disparities.
- Consider your diagnosis from Assessment 1. Develop a research question using the PICO(T) process to address an issue of your choosing related to your diagnosis.
- Properly format your PICO(T) question to guide your search of the literature.
- Describe your search of the literature, noting search engines, key words, and credibility factors.
- Locate evidence that explores your intervention and comparison of your PICO(T) question with an emphasis on your specific outcome (at least three diagnosis-issue-specific sources of evidence (scholarly articles)).
- Explain the content of each of your scholarly articles.
- Explain the credibility and relevance of each of the articles you chose to your diagnosis issue.
- Analyze the evidence. Determine the answer to your PICO(T) question based on your analysis of the evidence.
Your assessment should also meet the following requirements:
- Length of submission: Create a 3 page submission focused on defining a research question and interpreting evidence relevant to answering it.
- Number of references: Cite a minimum of four sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your findings and considerations. Resources should be no more than 5 years old.
- APA formatting: Format references and citations according to the current APA style.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
- Competency 1: Interpret findings from scholarly quantitative, qualitative, and outcomes research articles and studies.
- Describe a search of the literature noting search engines, key words, and credibility factors.
- Competency 2: Analyze the relevance and potential effectiveness of evidence when making a decision.
- Explain a diagnosis in terms of outcomes, risks, and complications, including the risks and complications for vulnerable populations or those affected by healthcare disparities, and the impact of those disparities.
- Explain the content of at least three sources of evidence, including the credibility and relevance of the articles to a specific diagnosis issue.
- Competency 4: Plan care based on the best available evidence.
- Describe a research question developed using the PICO(T) process to address a chosen issue related to a diagnosis.
- Analyze evidence to explain the answer to a PICO(T) question.
- Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly communication strategies to lead practice changes based on evidence.
- Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.
- Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references, exhibiting adherence to most aspects of APA format.
- Explains a diagnosis in terms of outcomes, risks and complications, including the risks, and complications for vulnerable populations or those affected by healthcare disparities, and the impact of those disparities. Provides examples.
Describes a research question developed using the PICO(T) process to address a chosen issue related to a diagnosis, and identifies how the question meets each of the criteria of the PICO(T) process.Describes a search of the literature noting search engines, key words, and credibility factors, and how the search process was refined to yield the best results.Explains the content of more than three sources of evidence, including the credibility and relevance of the articles to a specific diagnosis issue.Analyzes evidence to explain the answer to a PICO(T) question, identifying assumptions on which the analysis is based.Organizes content with a clear purpose. Content flows logically with smooth transitions using coherent paragraphs, correct grammar/punctuation, word choice, and free of spelling errors.Exhibits adherence to most aspects of APA formatting of headings, in-text citations, and references. Correctly uses quotes and paraphrasing.