PICOT Questions - Types of Evidence - Databases

Also see PICOT - pyramid and definitions

 Outline Description
Title: PICOT Questions - Types of Evidence - Databases
Also see PICOT - pyramid and definitions Look for the highest level of evidence appropriate for your clinical question.

Type of Clinical Question  Meaning: Qualitative studies.

 Therapy “What is the best treatment or intervention?”
 Prevention “How can I prevent this problem?”
 Diagnosis/Assessment “What is the best way to assess or best Synthesized Research (Secondary Literature) in General
diagnostic test for this patient?” Use Cochrane Collection Plus, CINAHLPlus, and Medline to find:
 Causation “What causes this problem?”  Systematic reviews
 Prognosis “What are the long term effects of this problem?”  Meta-analyses
 Meaning “What is the meaning of this experience for Synthesized Research (Secondary Literature) for Specific Types of
patients?” Clinical Questions
 Therapy: Systematic reviews
Primary Research in General  Prevention: Systematic reviews
Use CINAHLPlus and Medline to find:  Causation: Systematic reviews
 Randomized controlled trials (RCT)  Prognosis: Systematic reviews
 Controlled Trials  Meaning: Systematic reviews
 Case-control studies
 Cohort studies Other Evidence (Secondary Literature) in General
 Descriptive studies Use CINAHLPlus, Medline, Joanna Briggs Institute, nursing,
 Qualitative studies healthcare, and government organizations to find:
 Instrument development research  Clinical practice guidelines
Primary Research for Specific Types of Clinical Questions
 Therapy: Randomized controlled trials (RCT), Controlled trials Use published clinical articles (not research based), peer institution
 Prevention: Randomized controlled trials (RCT), Controlled practices, expert clinician practices to find:
trials  Expert opinion
 Diagnosis/Assessment: Instrument development research
 Causation: Cohort, Case control, Descriptive, or Qualitative Other Evidence (Secondary Literature) for Specific Types of
studies Clinical Questions
 Prognosis: Cohort or descriptive studies.  Therapy: Clinical practice guidelines
 Prevention: Clinical practice guidelines

Lansing Community College Library June 2019