PICO is a mnemonic used to describe the four elements of a good clinical question:
- P = Population/Patient/Problem
- How would I describe the problem or a group of patients similar to mine?
- I = Intervention
- What main intervention, prognostic factor or exposure am I considering?
- C = Comparison
- Is there an alternative to compare with the intervention?
- O = Outcome
- What do I hope to accomplish, measure, improve or affect?