Clinical issue of interest that can form the basis of a clinical inquiry.

Full Answer Section

Step 2: Explore potential issues:

• Brainstorm specific problems or areas for improvement within your chosen area of interest.
• Look for gaps in knowledge, inconsistencies in practice, or limitations of current interventions.
• Consider factors like patient safety, efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and patient satisfaction.

Step 3: Narrow down and refine your issue:

• Once you have a few potential issues, choose one that is:
  • Clinically relevant and impactful.
  • Feasible to research and address within your resources and timeframe.
  • Not already well-studied or definitively answered.

Step 4: Develop your PICO(T) question:

• PICO(T) stands for:
  • Population: Who is the patient group affected by the issue?
  • Intervention: What is the new or alternative approach you want to investigate?
  • Comparison: What is the current standard practice or alternative intervention?
  • Outcome: What specific patient outcomes are you interested in improving?
  • Time: Is there a specific timeframe for the outcome or intervention?

Here are some examples of PICO(T) questions based on different areas of interest:

Cardiology:

• P: Patients with acute myocardial infarction
• I: Early versus delayed percutaneous coronary intervention
• C: Standard medical management
• O: Rates of mortality and major adverse cardiac events at 30 days post-infarction

Oncology:

• P: Elderly patients with early-stage breast cancer
• I: Lumpectomy with adjuvant tamoxifen versus mastectomy without adjuvant therapy
• C: Standard treatment with both lumpectomy and adjuvant tamoxifen
• O: Five-year survival rates and quality of life

Mental Health:

• P: Adolescents with anxiety disorders
• I: Group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) compared to individual CBT
• C: Waitlist control group without any intervention
• O: Reduction in anxiety symptoms and improvement in social functioning at 6 months

Remember:

• Your PICO(T) question should be clear, concise, and focused.
• Use specific keywords and terms related to your chosen issue.
• Ensure your question is answerable through research and relevant available data.

Here are some additional resources to help you:

• Joanna Briggs Institute PICO Tool: https://jbi-global-wiki.refined.site/space/MANUAL/4688141
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) ClinicalTrials.gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/
• Cochrane Library: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/

Once you've developed your PICO(T) question, you can explore relevant research literature, conduct a needs assessment, and design a study to investigate your chosen clinical issue.

Sample Answer

Step 1: Identify areas of your clinical interest:

• Think about your clinical practice, specialties you find intriguing, or recent challenges you've encountered.
• Are there any patient populations or specific procedures you feel passionate about or find particularly challenging?
• Consider recent advancements in your field or ongoing debates that pique your curiosity.