Which term is NOT a component of PICO?

Which term is NOT a component of PICO?

• A. Results
• B. Patient/Population
• C. Intervention
• D. Outcomes

Answer: (A)

PICO is used to frame a focused clinical question by specifying four elements: patient/population, intervention, comparator, and outcome. The term “Results” is not part of this framework; it describes what is reported after a study is completed, not the components used to formulate the question. Outomes, in contrast, are what you measure to assess the effect of the intervention, making it a valid PICO element. For example, adults with hypertension (P) starting a new drug (I) vs standard therapy (C) with the outcome being change in systolic blood pressure (O). Thus, the term not included in PICO is “Results.”

PICO is used to frame a focused clinical question by specifying four elements: patient/population, intervention, comparator, and outcome. The term “Results” is not part of this framework; it describes what is reported after a study is completed, not the components used to formulate the question. Outomes, in contrast, are what you measure to assess the effect of the intervention, making it a valid PICO element. For example, adults with hypertension (P) starting a new drug (I) vs standard therapy (C) with the outcome being change in systolic blood pressure (O). Thus, the term not included in PICO is “Results.”