PICO

 

P=       Population

I=        Intervention (or diagnosis, prognosis) being evaluated

C=       Comparison (usually to gold standard or no treatment)

O=       Outcome

Example:

Is physical activity at least twice a week for more than ten minutes as effective as the antihypertensive X in preventing high blood pressure in adults over 18 years?

P=       adults over 18 years

I=        physical activity at least twice a week for more than ten minutes

C=       antihypertensive X

O=       prevention of high blood pressure

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