NRS 307/309 Clinical Reasoning Seminar: PICOT Questions

Use the PICOT format to structure your literature search based on a clearly-stated, searchable clinical question.

P = Patient Population

I = Intervention or area of Interest

C = Comparison or Control group

O = Outcome

T = Time frame (e.g. how long does it take for the intervention to reach an outcome?) Not always included

1. Start with the I, C, or O of your PICOT.


2. Find the best terminology for each term.  Look at the subject headings (CINAHL Headings or MeSH).  Note that CINAHL and MEDLINE may use different terminology for your terms.


3. Which subject terms are relevant? Add those to your search with "or." E.g., [therapeutic play or play therapy or "play and playthings"]


4. Next, combine your PICOT elements. Begin by combining your Intervention and Outcome terms. If you have a large number of search results, then add additional PICOT elements.

Revise your research question as you search the literature and determine what's available. Two examples from past School of Nursing student research:

1. This question: 

Which interventions should hospitals implement using trauma informed care to decrease adverse effects in adulthood?

might become:

What is the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adulthood?

(if there are not many articles about interventions using trauma informed care -- and you could then look for interventions to mediate the impacts you discovered)

2. This question: 

How does postpartum care affect maternal mortality rate in minority vs Caucasian women?

might become:

How does postpartum care affect maternal mortality rate in minority women?

(if you don't find articles comparing minority and Caucasian women)