NURS 414 Nursing Research: Research Strategies - PICO(T)

Any empirical research—quantitative or qualitative—should be guided from the outset by a question or set of questions. The question defines precisely what is being examined and how an assessment of the results will be undertaken.

The research question begins with a research problem, an issue someone would like to know more about or a situation that needs to be changed or addressed, such as:

• Areas of concern

• Conditions that could be improved

• Difficulties that need to be eliminated

• Questions seeking answers

Characteristics of a good research question:

• The question is feasible.

• The question is clear.

• The question is significant.

• The question is ethical.

The feasibility of the question should guide not only the expression of the question but its conception. Feasibility should be foremost in the researcher’s mind in the earliest stages of any project. Reviewers will always evaluate the feasibility of a question (possibly before other elements).

Clear expression signals clear thinking. Not only must the question be clear in the mind of the research, it must be articulated clearly. Again, reviewers of a manuscript will insist upon clear question so that the potential audience will be able to understand the question and, thus, follow the write-up of the project.

Significance may be said to be in the eye of the beholder. One way to gauge significance is to ascertain whether a reading audience will be able to take away a lesson from the project. Work that is very limited—say, to a single organization—may not be looked upon with favor by reviewers. If the question and the project are important enough that readers learn from the work, then it generally passes the significance test.

Quantitative

Sousa, V. D., Driessnack, M., & Mendes, I. A. C. (2007). An overview of research designs relevant to nursing: Part 1: quantitative research designs. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem, 15(3), 502-507. http://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692007000300022 

Qualitative

Driessnack, M., Sousa, V. D., & Mendes, I. A. C. (2007). An overview of research designs relevant to nursing: part 2: qualitative research designs. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem, 15(4), 684-688.https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692007000400025 

Mixed-methods

Martha, D., Sousa, V. D., & Mendes, I. A. C. (2007). An overview of research designs relevant to nursing: Part 3: Mixed and multiple methods. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem, 15(5), 1046-1049. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692007000500025 

Problem / Patient / Population (P) – What individual or group are we interested in studying?

Intervention / Indicator  (I) – What is the action (intervention, treatment) we are considering taking?

Comparison (C) – To what other action (intervention, treatment) are we comparing the considered action?

Outcome (O) – What do we anticipate as an outcome?

Time / Type of Study (T) - What time element or type of study are you looking for?

Example of a PICO(T)

Does hand washing among healthcare workers reduce hospital acquired infections? 

• P (Problem or Patient or Population): hospital acquired infection
• I (intervention/indicator) : hand washing
• C (comparison): no hand washing; other solutions: masks
• O (outcome of interest): reduced infection
• T (type of study) qualitative / qualtitative / case study