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Research Guides@Tufts

EBVM Search Guide: PICO

Resources to support database searching.

PICO as a Search Tool

Your search question can be broken down into a Patient/Problem/Population, Intervention, Comparison Intervention and an Outcome, commonly called PICO.

Use the PICO builder to help construct the elements of your question.

Example Question
Does the administration of carprofen to dairy cattle with E. coli mastitis improve clinical recovery, as compared to no anti-inflammatory treatment?

Patient/Problem/Population :  dairy cattle with E. coli mastitis

Intervention:  administration of carprofen

Comparison:  no anti-inflammatory treatment

Outcome:  improve clinical recovery?