Best PICOT Question Examples

Despite the numerous do my homework services online, the fact is that students can still not find reasonable homework solutions on how to develop and answer PICOT questions. It leaves most students asking themselves, ‘what is a Picot question, and why does it matter?’

What does Picot Stand for in Nursing?

In addition to asking for the definition of picot question and the PICOT question format, most people also ask, ‘what is a Picot question in nursing?’ Well, a PICOT question refers to a specific formula that has been identified to help nursing students in answering comprehensive and researchable questions. Since most students do not take their time to analyze what a Picot question entails, they often find themselves having difficulties in answering the research questions. Therefore, if you want to nail your nursing research questions, you first have to come up with the perfect Picot questions.

Brilliant Picot questions will make the process of answering the issues much more straightforward. Additionally, they will make you attain the clinical evidence you need even more quickly. Having understood what a Picot question means, leads us to the next aspect of this ‘formula’ which is what PICOT stands for. Well, PICOT is an abbreviation, and its meaning answers the question, ‘What does Picot stand for in evidence-based practice?’ It stands for:

P: Population or the patient

It could be the gender, age, ethnicity, or persons with a particular condition or disorder

I: Intervention or the indicator(Variable of Interest)

It stands for the risk behavior, the exposure to an infection, or a prognostic factor

C: Comparison or the control

This refers to an individual that has zero traces of the disease in question or does not have the risk factor, or Prognostic factor B

         O: Outcome

This refers to the results, which could be the risk of the infection or condition, the accuracy level of a diagnosis, or the rate of occurrence of an adverse outcome

T: Time

This is the overall time the participants have been observed or the period it has taken to attain the outcome

Types of PICOT Questions

There are five Picot question types. They include:

1. Intervention or the issue of interest

These types of questions are formatted to help in determining what treatment has the best outcome. These types of questions can be phrased as follows:

In a group of men highly vulnerable to falls (P), how does hourly rounding (I) compared with rounding every 6 hours (C) affects the number of new falls (O)?

This is among the perfect PICOT question examples for falls.

2. The Prognosis or the Prediction

These questions are used in determining the possible complications that arise from a particular condition or the clinical course over a specific time frame. An example of an intervention PICOT questions is as follows:

In a family of six where there is a history of cardiovascular disease (P), how does the decision of participating in a nutrition program (I) in comparison to a choice of not participating in the program (C) impact the healthy food consumption trend (O) within eight months (T)?

3. Diagnosis or Diagnostic Test

These questions are different from those of the intervention or the prognosis. They are developed to help in determining which test is more reliable and accurate in the diagnosis of a particular disease. For instance, in a group of adults that are believed to have type 2 diabetes (P), is the A1C (I) compared with the fasting plasma glucose (C) more accurate in diagnosing type 2 diabetes (O)?

4. Etiology

These questions are used in determining the most significant causes or risk factors of a particular disease or condition. One example of a problem targeting the etiology aspect is as shown below: Are kids (P) with sedentary lifestyles (I) compared with those without such lifestyles (C) at a higher risk of being obese (O) over eight months (T)?

5. Meaning

These questions are developed to help the researcher or investigator in gaining more insight into the importance of experience to either one person, a group, or a broader community. One example of such a question is as shown:

How do ladies (P) who have been tested positive for high blood pressure (I) view their ability to function (O) when in an environment that triggers them (T)?

 Nursing PICOT Question Examples

Suppose your instructor or professor asked you to develop PICOT question examples emergency nursing field or in another scenario. Would you know how to go about it, or would you instead decide between buying essays online safe and quick? Here are some nursing Picot question ideas that can give you an idea of how to phrase the questions:

PICOT question example 1

Does the bariatric adolescent patient going through gastric bypass have a better chance of continuity of care perioperatively and postoperatively when the nurse is a primary member of the multidisciplinary team compared to if the nurse is a secondary member whose only task is to provide perioperative care and has no specialized training?

Population: The bariatric adolescents who are taking or planning on undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

Intervention: The role of the nurse as a primary member of the multidisciplinary team regarding perioperative care of the bariatric adolescent patient.

Comparison: The role of the nurse as a secondary member of the multidisciplinary team has no specialized training and is only involved in the perioperative care of the bariatric adolescent patient.

Outcome: When the nurse is involved as one of the primary members in the multidisciplinary team approach, the bariatric adolescent patient has better continuity of care.

Time:Perioperative, including the six weeks post-recovery.

PICOT question example 2

In admitted patients, does turning the patient contrasted with weight beddings diminish the danger of weight ulcers faster within four months?

Population: admitted patients

Intervention: turning the patient

Control: weight beddings

Outcome: diminish the danger of weight ulcers

Time: 4 months

PICOT question example 3

In ventilated patients, is the head-of-bed height of 45 degrees contrasted with 20 degrees more effective in decreasing the frequency of ventilated related pneumonia within eight months?

Population: ventilated patients

Intervention: the head-of-bed height of 45 degrees

Control: 20 degrees

Outcome: decrease in the frequency of ventilated related pneumonia

Time: 8 months

PICOT question example 4

In hospitalized children, is the Wong-Baker Pain FACES Rating Scale contrasted with the Child Medical Fear Scale more accurate in assessing the kid’s dimension of torment in 6 months?

Population: Hospitalized children

Intervention:The Wong-Baker Pain FACES Rating Scale

Control: The Child Medical Fear Scale

Outcome:The kid’s dimension of torment

Time: 6 months

PICOT question example 5

For patients 65 years and older, how does the use of an influenza vaccine compared to those who have not received the vaccine influence the risk of developing pneumonia during flu season?

Population: patients who are 65 years and older

Intervention: influenza vaccine

Control: non-vaccinated patients who are 65 years and older

Outcome: developing pneumonia

Time: flu season

PICOT question example 6

What is the recovery period for patients with the total hip replacement who developed a post-operative infection as opposed to those who did not get it within the first six weeks of recovery?

Population: patients with total hip replacement

Intervention: development of a post-operative infection

Control: patients without total hip replacement

Outcome: duration of recovery

Time: first six weeks of recovery

All these PICOT questions range in various topics. One of the issues that students often have a problem in developing PICOT questions is the prevention of ulcers. To help you create the perfect PICOT questions for preventing ulcers here is an example of a PICOT question preventing pressure ulcers:

What is the effect of enzymatic debridement of non-viable tissue compared with sharp debridement on the rate of healing of pressure ulcers in adults within one year?

Patient: Adults

Intervention:enzymatic debridement of non-viable tissue

Control: sharp debridement

Outcome: rate of healing of pressure ulcers

Time: One year

Example of a PICO question on the same topic:

Would the implementation of an evidence-based checklist better prevent the progression of pressure ulcers in adult Med-Surg patients?

Patient: Adult Med-Surg patients

Intervention:Pressure ulcer treatment checklist

Control: Traditional Management

Outcome: Decrease in the amount of pressure ulcer development or progression

PICOT Question Examples

If you have been asked to develop a PICOT question in the nutrition field, then here are nursing PICOT question examples of how you should structure your statement:

How effective is the consumption of low glycemic index foods for reducing energy intake and promoting weight loss in adults in 13 months?

Patient: Adults

Intervention: consumption of low glycemic index foods

Control: There is no comparison

Outcome: reduction of the energy intake and promotion of weight loss

Time: 13 months

How effective is acupuncture in improving mobility in elderly male stroke patients in comparison to standard stroke therapy within two years?

Patient: elderly male stroke patients

Intervention: acupuncture

Control: standard stroke therapy

Outcome: improvement of mobility in elderly male stroke patients

Time: 2 years

Types of PICO Questions?

There are several types of PICO questions. They include:

1. The therapy or intervention questions that are used in determining the best intervention that can lead to the best outcome.
2. Etiology questions help in identifying the root causes or the risk factors of a condition.
3. The diagnosis questions help in identifying the most accurate and precise diagnosis methods for a specific condition.
4. The outcome questions help in determining the results of a specific intervention.

Here are some examples of PICO questions and a list of pediatric PICO questions:

PICO Question 1

In adult patients with Systemic lupus erythematosus, is consuming turmeric tea more effective than Plaquenil at reducing joint pain?

Patient: patients with Systemic lupus erythematosus

Intervention: turmeric tea

Control: Plaquenil (standard drug therapy)

Outcome: reduction of joint pain

PICO Question 2

Is the d‐dimer assay more accurate at ruling out deep vein thrombosis compared to ultrasound?

Population: adults

Intervention: d-dimer assay

Control: ultrasound

Outcome: more accurate diagnosis of DVT

PICO Question 3

Among young children with an acute asthma exacerbation, is a single dose of intramuscular dexamethasone comparable to 5 days of oral prednisolone for the resolution of asthma symptoms? 

Patient: young children with an acute asthma exacerbation

Intervention: a single dose of intramuscular dexamethasone

Control: 5 days of oral prednisolone

Outcome: the resolution of asthma symptoms

PICO Question 4

Systemic steroids, such as prednisone, slow bone growth. Children with chronic asthma are often prescribed inhaled steroids or corticosteroids. Do these drugs have any impact on growth before adolescence?

Population: preadolescents with asthma

Intervention: inhaled corticosteroids

Control: treatment without corticosteroids

Outcome: growth at a predicted rate

PICO Question 5

In preadolescents with asthma, will inhaled corticosteroids suppress average growth (as compared to treatment without corticosteroids)?

Patient: preadolescents with asthma

Intervention: inhaled corticosteroids

Control: treatment without corticosteroids

Outcome: suppression of average growth

PICO Question 6

In middle-aged men with suspected myocardial infarction, are serial 12-lead ECGs compared with one initial 12-lead ECG more accurate in diagnosing an acute myocardial infarction?

Patient: middle-aged men with suspected myocardial infarction

Intervention: serial 12-lead ECGs

Control: one initial 12-lead ECG

Outcome: diagnosis of an acute myocardial infarction

The bottom line is that it is very straightforward to develop either the PICO or the PICOT questions. This accurate and step-by-step guide will give you insight into how to develop and also answer them. If you need help developing a PICOT question, place your order now.