PICOT Searching: Welcome

P – Population, problem or patient: Identify the patient problem or population. Describe either the patient's chief complaint or generalize the patient's comparison to a larger population.

I - Intervention: Include the use of a specific diagnostic test, treatment, adjunctive therapy, medication or recommendation to the patient to use a product or procedure.

C - Comparison: The main alternative you are considering. It should be specific and limited to one alternative.

O – Outcome: Specify the result(s) of what you plan to accomplish, improve or affect and should be measurable. Specific outcomes will yield better search results and allow you to find the studies that focus on the outcomes you are searching for.

T – Time: Specify the time frame needed to achieve the Outcome.

Example Question and Description

I am looking for articles representing evidence about what can be done to prevent falls in the elderly.  In particular, I would like to know what evidence is available about the prevention of falls in elderly.  I am particularly interested in the use of fall risk assessment to prevent falls in the elderly. 

• What is the population?  Older adults, in the hospital or long-term care facilities
• What is the intervention?  Falls risk assessment
• What is the Comparison?  In this case, there is no comparison intervention or standard of care.
• What is Outcome?  Prevention of falls
• What is the time it takes to meet the outcome of the intervention?  In this case, time is not measured.

Possible Keywords for Database Searching

• (elderly or aged or older adults)
• (falls risk assessment or fall risk assessment)
• (nursing or nursing assessment)     

Other Tips

• Look for limiters relevant to a part of your PICO question. Some databases have limiters for age and gender.
• Your intervention is the most important part of your question as a subject for searching.
• Make sure you know the kind of article you need. Use limiters like "peer reviewed" or "research article" or for a specific type, like "systematic review."