Which term in PICO describes the outcomes to be measured?

Which term in PICO describes the outcomes to be measured?

• A. Intervention
• B. Population
• C. Outcomes
• D. Comparisons

Answer: (C)

The main idea is identifying which PICO element corresponds to the results you plan to measure. In PICO, the population defines who is studied, the intervention describes what is done, and the comparison specifies what the intervention is compared to. The outcomes are the measurable results you care about—the endpoints that will show whether the intervention helps or harms, such as symptom improvement, survival, quality of life, or adverse events. Defining outcomes early guides how you collect data, how long you follow patients, and how you judge effectiveness.

The main idea is identifying which PICO element corresponds to the results you plan to measure. In PICO, the population defines who is studied, the intervention describes what is done, and the comparison specifies what the intervention is compared to. The outcomes are the measurable results you care about—the endpoints that will show whether the intervention helps or harms, such as symptom improvement, survival, quality of life, or adverse events. Defining outcomes early guides how you collect data, how long you follow patients, and how you judge effectiveness.