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Sociology 146 (Polonijo)

Social Determinants of Health

Research Frameworks

  

 

How to use PICO to refine your research question from the Medical College of Wisconsin Libraries (1:43).

As you consider the scope of your research, think about how you will define these concepts:

  • Population / Problem: who are you screening? Why?
  • Intervention: what are you evaluating? e.g., a treatment, an intervention, etc.
  • Comparison: are you comparing this group to another group, e.g. a placebo group?
  • Outcome: what are the outcomes? Is there a specific one you are looking at?

PICO Variations

  • PEO: Exposure
  • PICOT: Timeframe 
  • PICOTS: Timeframe, Setting
  • PICOS: Study Design, e.g. cohorts or randomized controlled trials.

(From Lackey, M. (2013). Systematic reviews: Searching the literature [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://guides.lib.unc.edu/ld.php?content_id=258919)

In adults, is screening for depression and feedback of results to providers more effective than no screening and feedback in improving outcomes of major depression in primary care settings?

  • Population / Problem: adults / depression (major)
  • Intervention: screening, feedback
  • Comparison: income levels
  • Outcome: no particular outcomes specified

(From Lackey, M. (2013). Systematic reviews: Searching the literature [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://guides.lib.unc.edu/ld.php?content_id=258919)