A PICO research question is a focused question that can be used to guide a literature search and critical appraisal of the relevant literature. PICO stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. The Population component of the question identifies the group of people that the research is focused on. The Intervention component identifies the treatment or intervention that is being investigated. The Comparison component identifies the treatment or intervention that the experimental group is being compared to. The Outcome component identifies the specific outcome that is being measured.
PICO research questions are important because they help to ensure that a literature search is focused and relevant. By identifying the specific population, intervention, comparison, and outcome of interest, researchers can narrow down their search to the most relevant studies. This can save time and effort, and it can also help to ensure that the research findings are valid and reliable.
