Assingments % - How to Formulate a Strong PICO Question for Nursing Research

Choose a topic from the topic list on the attached instructions.

Write a PICO question that relates to your topic.

Find a quantitative nursing research article. Make sure that it is actually nursing research. You may not use any of the following:

A retrospective study (exceptions as noted on worksheet)
A mixed methods study
A qualitative research article
A systematic review
A quality improvement article
An evidence based practice article

You may not use the article that is being used for the RACs in this course session.

If you are repeating the class, you may not use the article or topic that you used for your last attempt at this class.

You may receive help from librarians in finding an article, but you are ultimately responsible for whether it meets requirements or not.

Upload the worksheet and your article. The article must be in pdf format.

Topics

Addiction

Adherence

Alarm safety

Comfort

Delirium

Depression

Diabetes management

Discharge teaching

Falls

Functional ability

Health and wellbeing of nurses

Hospital readmission rates

Infection control

Mobility

Pain

Prenatal teaching

Prevention of post operative complications

Prevention of pressure ulcers

Sleep disturbances

Stress

Now, we will construct your question.

First, make sure that your question is a practice question, not a research question.

A practice question is a question that answers a problem you have as a practicing nurse. A research question focuses more on basic knowledge. Sometimes there is some overlap, and there are questions that could be either practice questions or research question.

First, identify each element of your PICO on the line below, then take a look at the templates below to help you formulate a PICO(T) question.

P: Population/disease ( i.e. age, gender, ethnicity, with a certain disorder)

P: _______________________________________________________________

I: Intervention or Variable of Interest (exposure to a disease, risk behavior, prognostic factor) Note: Not every question will have an intervention (as in a meaning question – see below).

I: _______________________________________________________________

C: Comparison: (could be a placebo or “business as usual” as in no disease, absence of risk factor). Note: This is not used in a meaning question – see below.

C: ______________________________________________________________

O: Outcome: (risk of disease, accuracy of a diagnosis, rate of occurrence of adverse outcome)

O: _______________________________________________________________

T: Time: The time it takes to demonstrate an outcome (e.g. the time it takes for the intervention to achieve an outcome or how long participants are observed). This is an optional “add-on” for a PICO question.

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For PICO questions about a nursing intervention/therapy:

In _______(P), what is the effect of _______(I) on ______(O) compared with _______(C) within ________ (T)?

For PICO etiology questions:

Are ____ (P) who have _______ (I) at ___ (increased/decreased) risk for/of_______ (O) compared with ______ (P) with/without ______ (C) over _____ (T)?

For PICO questions involving prevention:

For ________ (P) does the use of ______ (I) reduce the future risk of ________ (O) compared with _________ (C)?

For PICO questions that predict:

Does __________ (I) influence ________ (O) in patients who have _______ (P) over ______ (T)?

When you have decided on the final form of your topic and your PICO(T) question, fill out the worksheet and upload it in Canvas. Be sure to upload your quantitative nursing research article as well.

Topic, PICO(T), and Article Worksheetv3.docx

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Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Guide to Structuring and Writing Your Paper

Step 1: Choose Your Topic

Select a topic from the provided list. Ensure it is relevant to your interests and aligns with the assignment requirements. Examples include:

Infection control
Pain
Mobility
Falls

Step 2: Develop Your PICO(T) Question

A PICO(T) question helps structure your research. Use the following framework to formulate your question:

P (Population/disease): Identify the patient group (e.g., elderly patients with diabetes).
I (Intervention): Specify the nursing intervention (e.g., structured discharge education).
C (Comparison): Define what you are comparing it to (e.g., standard discharge process).
O (Outcome): Describe the expected result (e.g., reduced hospital readmission rates).
T (Time – optional): Indicate the timeframe (e.g., within six months of discharge).

Example PICO(T) Question: “In hospitalized elderly patients (P), how does structured discharge education (I) compared to standard discharge procedures (C) impact hospital readmission rates (O) within six months (T)?”

Step 3: Find a Quantitative Nursing Research Article

Search for a research article that meets these criteria:

Must be quantitative nursing research
Cannot be:
- A retrospective study
- Mixed methods study
- Qualitative research
- Systematic review
- Quality improvement article
- Evidence-based practice article
Must be in PDF format for submission

Use library databases like CINAHL, PubMed, or Google Scholar. Seek librarian assistance if needed but ensure the article meets all requirements.

Step 4: Fill Out the Worksheet

Complete the Topic, PICO(T), and Article Worksheet, ensuring:

Your PICO(T) question is correctly formatted.
The selected article is properly cited.
All required fields are filled in accurately.

Step 5: Upload Your Work

Submit the completed worksheet.
Attach the PDF version of your research article.
Double-check that all documents are correctly uploaded in Canvas.

Additional Tips for Success

Read the rubric to understand grading criteria.
Use correct APA formatting for citations.
Proofread your work to avoid errors.
Seek feedback from peers or instructors if unsure.

By following these steps, you will efficiently complete your assignment while ensuring it meets all academic requirements!