Use PICOS to develop a clear idea what information you are seeking.
PICOS was developed by faculty at McMaster University.
| P | Population/Patient/Problem | For which group do you need information? |
| I | Intervention | What medical event do you need to study the effect of? |
| C | Comparison | What is the evidence that the intervention produces different results than a different or no intervention? |
| O | Outcome | What is the effect of the intervention? |
| S | Setting/Study Type |
Where is the research done (e.g., ambulatory setting) or type of study (e.g., RCT)? |
Level 1 Systematic reviews or meta-analyses
Level 2 Randomized controlled trials
Level 3 a. Cohort studies (with control group)
b. Case-controlled
c. Observational studies (without control group)
Level 4 Expert opinion, physiology bench research, or consensus
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