Library Homepage: Nursing & Health Sciences : Critical Appraisal Frameworks (PICOT)

Why Use a Framework?

Frameworks can help:

focus the question, protocol/project/scope and search strategy,
identify inclusion/exclusion and data extraction element and clarify the theoretical framework and
provide clarity for reviewers, readers/funders.

Critical appraisal is the systematic evaluation of clinical research papers to see if they address a clearly focused question, use a valid methodology, and have important results applicable to the researcher's question.

Adapted from CEBM: The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine

PICOT

PICOT is useful for Clinical Questions about therapies and outcomes, often with a comparison.

Sample Topic:

Find evidence based medicine on alternatives to narcotic medicating for the elderly within home settings.

P = elderly in home, senior, geriatric, home care
I = cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)
C = no opiates/narcotics
O = lessened anxiety and associated behaviors (eg. over-eating, alcohol consumption)
T = within 3 months

Adapted from CHLA 2021 Conference presentation