There are alternative tools for clarifying your answerable question.
Qualitative
PICo = Population or problem | Interest | Context
Quantitative or qualitative
SPIDER = Sample | Phenomena of Interest | Design | Evaluation | Research type
SPICE = Setting (where) | Perspective (for whom) | Intervention or exposure or interest (what) | Comparison (what else) | Evaluation (what results or how well)
Clarity about your clinical or treatment questions will enable the development of an effective search strategy for your literature review.
PICO is common tool used to help with formulating an answerable clinical question. PICO enables you focus on outcomes for your patient or population group.
P = Patient or population group
I = Intervention or Indicator (or therapy or treatment or test etc)
C = Comparison (if applicable, eg comparing to gold standard)
O = Outcome (what is the desired measure, improvement or affect)
R / T = Research type / Type of study or evidence (eg, Meta-analysis, Systematic review, Randomised control trial, etc)
See also Levels of evidence page for further information about study types.
Useful format for structuring your question:
In <define characteristics, eg age / gender, etc> patient(s) or population groups with <disease or condition / exposure, etc>
How does <proposed intervention / therapy / treatment> (if comparison is applicable...) compare with <gold standard / alternative>
Effect <reduce (or increase) / improve / change / benefit, etc> <symptoms / care / length of bed stay / costs, etc>
Some tools to assist with formulating your PICO and answerable question are listed below.
Access to online resources for Queensland Health staff.
