50 PICO Examples from the University of Oxford

PICO is a framework used in evidence-based practice to construct clinical research questions. PICO stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. Here are 50 PICO examples:

Population: Patients with type 2 diabetes
Intervention: Dietary counseling
Comparison: No intervention
Outcome: Improved glycemic control

Population: Children with asthma
Intervention: Inhaled corticosteroids
Comparison: Placebo
Outcome: Reduced frequency and severity of asthma attacks

Population: Older adults with chronic pain
Intervention: Acupuncture
Comparison: Sham acupuncture
Outcome: Reduced pain severity and improved quality of life

Population: Patients with depression
Intervention: Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Comparison: Antidepressant medication
Outcome: Reduced symptoms of depression

Population: Women with breast cancer
Intervention: Exercise program
Comparison: No exercise program
Outcome: Improved physical function and quality of life

Population: Patients with hypertension
Intervention: Dietary sodium reduction
Comparison: No intervention
Outcome: Lowered blood pressure

Population: Adults with obesity
Intervention: Bariatric surgery
Comparison: Non-surgical weight loss interventions
Outcome: Greater weight loss and improved health outcomes

Population: Patients with chronic low back pain
Intervention: Spinal manipulation therapy
Comparison: Standard care
Outcome: Reduced pain and improved function

Population: Patients with heart failure
Intervention: Telemonitoring
Comparison: Standard care
Outcome: Reduced hospitalizations and improved quality of life

Population: Pregnant women
Intervention: Prenatal vitamins
Comparison: No prenatal vitamins
Outcome: Reduced risk of birth defects

Population: Patients with osteoarthritis
Intervention: Tai chi
Comparison: Standard care
Outcome: Reduced pain and improved physical function

Population: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Intervention: Pulmonary rehabilitation
Comparison: No intervention
Outcome: Improved exercise capacity and quality of life

Population: Patients with insomnia
Intervention: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia
Comparison: Sleep medication
Outcome: Improved sleep quality and quantity

Population: Patients with migraine headaches
Intervention: Mindfulness-based stress reduction
Comparison: No intervention
Outcome: Reduced frequency and severity of migraine attacks

Population: Patients with acute stroke
Intervention: Thrombolytic therapy
Comparison: No thrombolytic therapy
Outcome: Improved functional outcomes and reduced mortality

Population: Patients with chronic kidney disease
Intervention: Dietary protein restriction
Comparison: No intervention
Outcome: Slowed progression of kidney disease

Population: Patients with major depressive disorder
Intervention: Electroconvulsive therapy
Comparison: Antidepressant medication
Outcome: Improved symptoms of depression

Population: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Intervention: Methotrexate
Comparison: Placebo
Outcome: Reduced disease activity and improved physical function

Population: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Intervention: Long-acting bronchodilators
Comparison: Short-acting bronchodilators
Outcome: Improved lung function and symptom control

Population: Patients with chronic pain
Intervention: Mindfulness meditation
Comparison: No intervention
Outcome: Reduced pain severity and improved quality of life

Population: Patients with multiple sclerosis
Intervention: Disease-modifying therapy
Comparison: Placebo
Outcome: Reduced disease activity and progression

Population: Patients with Parkinson’s disease
Intervention: Deep brain stimulation
Comparison: Medication therapy
Outcome: Improved motor function and quality of life

Population: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome
Intervention: Low FODMAP diet
Comparison: Standard diet
Outcome: Reduced gastrointestinal symptoms

Population: Patients with anxiety disorders
Intervention: Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Comparison: Medication therapy
Outcome: Reduced anxiety symptoms

Population: Patients with atrial fibrillation
Intervention: Anticoagulation therapy
Comparison: No anticoagulation therapy
Outcome: Reduced risk of stroke and other complications

Population: Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder
Intervention: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
Comparison: Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Outcome: Reduced symptoms of PTSD

Population: Patients with chronic hepatitis C
Intervention: Direct-acting antiviral therapy
Comparison: Interferon-based therapy
Outcome: Increased sustained virologic response rates and reduced adverse effects

Population: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Intervention: Targeted therapy
Comparison: Chemotherapy
Outcome: Improved progression-free survival and reduced adverse effects

Population: Patients with type 1 diabetes
Intervention: Continuous glucose monitoring
Comparison: Self-monitoring of blood glucose
Outcome: Improved glycemic control and reduced hypoglycemia

Population: Patients with postoperative pain
Intervention: Regional anesthesia
Comparison: Systemic analgesia
Outcome: Reduced pain intensity and opioid consumption

Population: Patients with coronary artery disease
Intervention: Cardiac rehabilitation
Comparison: No rehabilitation
Outcome: Improved cardiovascular fitness and quality of life

Population: Patients with chronic hepatitis B
Intervention: Antiviral therapy
Comparison: No treatment
Outcome: Reduced risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer

Population: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Intervention: Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors
Comparison: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Outcome: Reduced disease activity and improved physical function

Population: Patients with diabetic retinopathy
Intervention: Laser photocoagulation
Comparison: No treatment
Outcome: Reduced risk of vision loss and progression of retinopathy

Population: Patients with chronic heart failure
Intervention: Cardiac resynchronization therapy
Comparison: Standard care
Outcome: Improved exercise capacity and quality of life

Population: Patients with advanced prostate cancer
Intervention: Androgen deprivation therapy
Comparison: No treatment
Outcome: Reduced disease progression and improved survival

Population: Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome
Intervention: Mechanical ventilation with lower tidal volumes
Comparison: Higher tidal volumes
Outcome: Reduced mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation

Population: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Intervention: Pulmonary rehabilitation
Comparison: No rehabilitation
Outcome: Improved exercise capacity and quality of life

PICO Examples from the University of Oxford