What does PICO stand for in Evidence-Informed Practice?

The term PICO is an acronym commonly used in Evidence-Informed Practice to help formulate clinical questions, particularly in the fields of health and medicine. The components of PICO stand for Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome.

In this framework, "Patient/Problem" identifies the specific group of patients or the healthcare issue that is being addressed, allowing researchers to focus on a relevant population or condition. The "Intervention" refers to the specific treatment or action being considered. "Comparison" is included in order to compare the intervention against another treatment, placebo, or standard care, which helps in analyzing the relative effectiveness of different approaches. Lastly, the "Outcome" specifies the desired result or effect of the intervention, whether it is improvement in health, prevention of disease, or some other measure of success.

Using PICO allows clinicians and researchers to clarify their questions, systematize their search for evidence, and ultimately enhance the process of making informed decisions based on the best available evidence. This structured approach ensures a thorough investigation of various aspects of patient care and strengthens the practice of Evidence-Informed Practice.