Week 2

Question 1

What does PICO stand for in evidence-based practice?

Answer 1

PICO stands for:
- P: Population or Problem
- I: Intervention
- C: Comparison (optional)
- O: Outcome

Question 2

What is the purpose of a PICO question?

Answer 2

To structure a focused, answerable question that guides evidence-based searching and clinical decision-making.

Question 3

What are background questions?

Answer 3

They target general knowledge about a condition, procedure, or concept. Example: ‘What causes a stroke?’

Question 4

What are foreground questions?

Answer 4

They address specific clinical knowledge that informs decision-making. Example: ‘Is early therapy effective in stroke patients?’

Question 5

What are the five types of practice-related foreground questions?

Answer 5

1. Effectiveness
2. Prevention
3. Assessment
4. Description
5. Risk

Question 6

What makes a PICO question well-written?

Answer 6

Includes clear PICO elements, is specific and succinct, avoids ambiguous terms, and ends with a question mark.

Question 7

What makes a PICO question poorly written?

Answer 7

Lacks clarity, is too vague or general, does not define the population or outcome well, or misses components.

Question 8

Example of a well-written PICO question?

Answer 8

In adults post-stroke, is early intensive communication therapy more effective than standard therapy in improving speech outcomes?

Question 9

Example of a poorly written PICO question?

Answer 9

Does therapy help with stuttering?

Question 10

Why is the ‘C’ in PICO optional?

Answer 10

Because not all questions require a direct comparison-sometimes the focus is only on evaluating one intervention.