Nursing Guide

Using PICO Search in EBSCO Databases

PICO or PICOT is an acronym that describes a process for helping health professionals formulate a clinical question before starting a search. This acronym serves as a framework to help address knowledge gaps during patient encounters. Please note that the T is an optional element. 

The clinical question needs to identify:

• Population or patient we intend to study (Who)
• Intervention or treatment we plan to use or the Issue of Interest (How or What)
• Comparison of one intervention to another or the Control (What is the alternative)
• Outcome we are looking for (to measure, diagnose, treat)

Some databases will have a feature to search using PICO or PICOT, while other databases will use just the PICO framework to develop your search strategy.

Using PICOT Search in EBSCO Databases:

All EBSCO databases, including CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE with Full Text, Alt HealthWatch, and SPORTDiscus with Full Text, support this searching style by providing a unique search box for filling in the separate PICOT elements. This feature helps researchers reduce their search query into a succinct statement and defines specific keywords.

Creating a PICOT Search

In the following example for CINAHL Complete, the researcher wants to know "In newborns experiencing pain, is there evidence to suggest that skin to skin contact is more effective than administering oral sucrose to reduce pain?"

To search using PICOT (Example--in CINAHL Complete):

1. At the initial CINAHL Complete search screen, find and click the PICOT link above the search box on the right side.
   
    
2. Reduce your question into specific keywords and enter them in the PICOT search box fields.
   Note: The (P)opulation and (I)ntervention fields must have terms entered. The (C)omparison field is recommended but not required, and (O)utcome and (T)ime or type fields are optional for searching.
   
   
    
3. After entering your terms, click "Add to Search" at the bottom.
    
4. Then on the main search screen where your PICOT terms populate the search box, click the Search button.
   
    
5. After clicking Search, you will see a list of your search results with the PICO or PICOT search applied.

For more information on PICO, along with additional examples of PICO questions, see "Forming Focused Questions with PICO: About PICO" from the University of North Carolina's Health Sciences Library.

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