Step 1: Frame Your Clinical Question
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Step 1: Frame your Clinical Question
- Step 2: Gather Evidence
- Step 3: Assess the Evidence
- Step 4: Make your Clinical Decision
The first step in the evidence-based practice (EBP) process is to identify the clinical problem or question for which you are seeking evidence. Asking a focused and relevant question about your client's situation will inform your search. One widely used approach to frame a clinical question is known as PICO, which stands for
Population Intervention Comparison Outcome
The PICO elements are as follows:
- Population: What are the characteristics and/or condition of the group? This may include specific diagnoses, ages, or severity levels (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, mild hearing loss).
- Intervention: What is the screening, assessment, treatment, or service delivery model that you are considering (e.g., instrumental swallowing assessment, high-intensity treatment, hearing aids)?
- Comparison: What is the main alternative to the intervention, assessment, or screening approach (e.g., placebo, different technique, different amount of treatment)? Note: In some situations, you may not have a specific comparison in your PICO question.
- Outcome: What do you want to accomplish, measure, or improve (e.g., upgraded diet level, more intelligible speech, better hearing in background noise)?
Once you've identified the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome for your situation, you can establish your PICO question.
Quick Tip:
There is no one "correct" way to construct a PICO question. Your clinical question should include elements specific to each client's unique circumstances and values.
| Population | Intervention | Comparison | Outcome | Example PICO Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children with severe to profound hearing loss | Cochlear implants | Hearing aids | Speech and language development | For children with severe to profound hearing loss, what is the effect of cochlear implants compared with hearing aids on speech and language development? |
| Young adult with a stroke | Cognitive rehab | Not applicable | Return to work | What is the effect of cognitive rehabilitation on vocational outcomes in individuals who experience a stroke? |
Quick Tip:
Sometimes, you have a clinical situation that may have more than one PICO question. Write them all down to tackle one search at a time. Your clinical question(s) should be specific enough to guide your search—but not too specific that you are unable to find any evidence.
