NR 439 PICOT Question Guide

NR 439 PICOT Question Guide

This document provides guidance and templates for constructing PICOT questions that encompass all elements of the PICOT framework. Each template offers a framework to compose a comprehensive PICOT question, showcases examples of PICOT elements, and includes explanations. Below are some suggestions for contemplating each of the PICOT components to formulate a robust clinical nursing PICOT question:

P=Population of patients: Reflect upon a group of patients you wish to investigate. Identify this group using characteristics such as age ranges, specific diagnoses or diseases of interest, duration of illness or diagnosis, location, unit, setting, gender (if applicable), race (if applicable), or other distinctive attributes, such as Medicare/Medicaid status, mobility status, ventilation, inpatient/outpatient status, etc.

I=Intervention: Consider the nursing actions or interventions that you believe can make a difference. Based on your exploration of the evidence, what does it suggest nurses can do to address the problem or issue you have chosen?

C=Comparison: Reflect on the comparison to the intervention of interest or the alternative, such as routine or standard care. If there is no comparison, indicate that the intervention is not being implemented or that there is no comparison group.

O=Outcome: Contemplate what measurable, relatable indicators would demonstrate whether the intervention is effective or not. What is the desired outcome that you can observe, check, or measure? For instance, “the pain is okay” would not be a measurable outcome, but “pain level less than 3 on the pain scale” would be measurable.

Career Goals: Strengths and Challenges Related to Nursing Practice Competencies

T=Timeframe: In this context, consider the duration required to implement your study by collecting data or the time needed to observe any changes that may occur. Think in terms of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, etc. Use a timeframe that is practical.

Template A

In _________________________ (P), does ________________________ (I) influence _____________________ (O) compared to ______________________________ (C) over ______________________________(T)?

Example:

In 65+ and older diabetic immobile adults in long-term care (P), does the implementation of a bedside oral care kit and checklist protocol (I) influence the frequency of oral care completion (O) compared to routine oral care without a bedside oral care kit (C) over 3 months (T)?

P=Population of patients: 65+ and older diabetic immobile adults in long-term care

I=Intervention: bedside oral care kit and checklist protocol

C=Comparison: routine oral care without a bedside oral care kit

O=Outcome: frequency of oral care completion

T=Time-frame: 3 months

Template B

In _________________________ (P), would ______________________ (I) improve _______________________ (O) compared to ______________________________ (C) over ______________________________(T)?

Example:

In male ICU patients who are 65+ and older diagnosed with COPD (P), would the use of the confusion assessment screening tool (CAST) (I) improve the early identification of delirium (O) compared to no screening tool (C) over 6 months (T)?

P=Population of patients: Inpatient male ICU patients 65+ and older diagnosed with COPD

I=Intervention: confusion assessment screening tool (CAST)

C=Comparison: routine care/no screening tool

O=Outcome: early identification of delirium

T=Timeframe: 6 months

Template C

In _________________________ (P), will ______________________ (I) impact _______________________ (O) compared to ______________________________ (C) over ______________________________ (T)?

Example:

In Hispanic pregnant women between 36-40 weeks (P), will completing a lactation course (I) increase the number of breastfeeding initiations by or within 6 hours of delivery (O) compared to no lactation course (C) over 6 months (T)?

P=Population of patients: Hispanic pregnant women between 36-40 weeks

I=Intervention: lactation course completed

C=Comparison: no lactation course

O=Outcome: number of breastfeeding initiations within 6 hours of delivery

T=Timeframe: 6 months

Template D

In _________________________ (P), what is the effect of ______________________ (I) on ____________________ (O) compared to ___________________________ (C) over ______________ (T)?

Example:

In pediatric non-Hispanic Black males ages 8-18 years old with a 5-year history of type 1 diabetes (P), what is the effect of using the Glucose Buddy Diabetes Tracker app (I) on maintaining HbA1C levels <7% (O) compared to the mySugar Diabetes Tracker Log app (C) over 6 months (T)?

P=Population of patients: pediatric non-Hispanic Black males ages 8-18 years old with 5-year history of type 1 diabetes

I=Intervention: Glucose Buddy Diabetes Tracker app

C=Comparison: mySugar Diabetes Tracker Log app

O=Outcome: HbA1C levels <7%

T=Timeframe: 6 months

[1] Adapted from Houser (2018) and the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN). (2018). AAACN research toolkit: Template for asking PICOT questions. NR 439 PICOT Question Guide