PICO Exercise

Example:

Research question: Is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy more effective at reducing the

symptoms of eating disorders than antidepressants?

Main Concept Synonyms/Abbreviations/More

specific concepts
P – Problem, Eating Disorder(s)
● Appetite Disorder(s)
condition, patient, Also consider if you
population, setting wish to restrict to a ● Anorexia Nervosa
particular group e.g.
men, older women, ● Bulimia
adolescents etc.
● Pica

● Binge eating disorder(s)

…
I – Intervention: Cognitive Behaviour
● CBT
dose, delivery, Therapy
frequency Also consider length of ● Cognitive Therapy
treatment/Frequency
of sessions? Does it ● Cognitive Psychotherapies
depend on the skill of Cognitive
the therapist? Behavioral/Behavioural
Therapies
…
C – Comparison Antidepressants
● Antidepressive agents
(may not be one) Consider if you are
interested in a specific ● Selective serotonin reuptake
dose, how administered inhibitor
(oral, patches, self
administered etc.), ● SSRI
frequency etc
● Specific drug names (brand
and generic) e.g. fluoxetine
and Prozac
…
O – Outcome: Symptom reduction Reduction of symptoms
what happens to Could also consider: Symptom management
P? Cost-effective? adverse effects, how Treatment outcome
Patients’ quickly do you see an
 experience? effect? Which is more
cost effective?

Assignment:

Research question:
How is the economic evaluation of Covid-19 vaccines?

Main Concept Synonyms/

Abbreviations/More
specific concepts
countries providing worldwide
P – Problem, Covid-19 vaccines
condition, patient,
population, setting
Covid-19 vaccines ● Covid-19 vaccination
I/E– Intervention/ ● Covid-19 immunisation
Exposure: dose,
delivery, frequency

C – Comparison
(may not be one) -
economic evaluation ● cost-minimization
O – Outcome: what analysis
happens to P? Cost- ● cost-effectiveness
effective? Patients’ ● cost-effectivity analysis
experience? ● cost-saving
● cost-utility analysis
● cost-benefit analysis
● budget impact analysis

Inclusion criteria:
Type of studies that should be included in the review? economic evaluation

Type of participants/ population/ problem? all countries who provide Covid-19 vaccines; minimum age of part

Type of intervention? Covid-19 vaccines.

Type of comparator (if available)? -

Type of outcome measure? cost and effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines

Exclusion criteria:
● Non-English abstract
● No abstract articles
● Review, case reports, conference proceedings, non‐peer reviewed papers,
opinion pieces, letters to the editor, and commentaries