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MAHEC Research Curriculum

Learning Objectives

Define a Research Question

Using the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome Timeframe (“PICOT”) framework

At the end of this independent learning module, participants will:

  • Be familiar with the PICO(T) format and how can be used as a tool in a larger process of developing clinical and/or research questions (note - there are many, guiding frameworks, but PICOT (or PICO) is where people new to research often start).
  • Apply the PICOT format in generating a clinical and/or research question.

Independent Learning

Read the following article:
 
Complete the interactive tutorial:

Review the following 3 sections (highlighted in screenshot):   (~2 minutes)

  • Assess

  • Ask: Anatomy of a good clinical (foreground*) question

  • Interactivity: What is the PICO for this patient case?

 

*Please know that the narrator uses the acronym “EBP” to define the larger

Evidenced Based Practice process.

Also the narrator makes a distinction between “background and foreground”

questions, but that is not relevant to your work to understand how to use

the PICOT framework.* 

 Duke EBM tutorial

 

 

Apply PICOT to your Research (or Clinical) Question

Think about a recent clinical presentation, public health issue, and/or other question you have been faced with in your work. Use that example and the form below to help refine your question. Then review examples of other questions that were refined using the PICOT format.

 

Guide to filling out the form below:

What Population do you anticipate including in your research project, what Intervention (or exposure) are you testing? Is there a Comparison intervention (including “usual care”) that you are using to compare to the proposed intervention’s impact on an outcome? What is the main Outcome you are planning to use in your study? (focus on ONE main outcome for this exercise), Is there a defined Timeframe that applies to your study (such as the length of time subjects are exposed to the intervention or another agent)?

 

Assess Your Learning

 

Next Module: Searching the Literature

Copyright & Reuse

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Suggested citation: Mountain Area Health Education Center. (2023). MAHEC Research Curriculum. https://ncahec.libguides.com/MAHEC/ResearchCurriculum