PICOT Question Examples per type of Clinical Question in Evidence-based Practice Research – Nursing PICO Ideas

Types of Clinical Questions: PICOT Frameworks in Nursing Practice

1. Intervention/Therapy PICOT Questions

What is an Intervention PICOT Question?: Intervention questions examine the effects of specific nursing actions, treatments, or care protocols on patient outcomes. These questions investigate cause-and-effect relationships between nursing interventions and measurable results.

Purpose & Application: Best used when you need to determine which nursing intervention is most effective for a specific patient population. Particularly valuable when:

• Comparing a new approach against standard care
• Evaluating different nursing techniques for the same condition
• Implementing evidence-based practices in your clinical setting
• Conducting quality improvement projects
• Justifying changes to nursing protocols
• Developing nursing care plans that produce optimal outcomes

Intervention PICOT Question Template and Structure

In ________ (P – specific patient population), how does ________ (I – nursing intervention with details), compared to ________ (C – alternative approach or standard care), affect ________ (O – specific measurable outcome) within ________ (T – realistic timeframe)?

Intervention PICOT Question Examples

1. In hospitalized adult patients with urinary catheters (P), how does nurse-initiated reminder protocol for catheter removal (I), compared to physician-initiated removal orders (C), affect the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (O) during hospital stay (T)?
2. In adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery (P), how does early ambulation within 6 hours post-operation (I), compared to standard ambulation protocols starting 24 hours post-operation (C), affect length of hospital stay (O) within the first week after surgery (T)?
3. In elderly patients with dementia in long-term care facilities (P), how does music therapy during bathing (I), compared to standard bathing procedures (C), affect agitation levels (O) during hygiene care (T)?
4. In pediatric patients receiving IV therapy (P), how does the use of child-specific distraction techniques (I) compared to standard care (C) affect pain scores and anxiety levels (O) during IV insertion (T)?
5. In pregnant women with gestational diabetes (P), how does nurse-led weekly telephone monitoring (I), compared to standard biweekly clinic visits (C), affect glycemic control (O) during the third trimester (T)?
6. In adult patients with chronic heart failure (P), how does a nurse-implemented home-based exercise program (I), compared to standard discharge instructions (C), affect hospital readmission rates (O) within 30 days of discharge (T)?
7. In postoperative patients with acute pain (P), how does scheduled administration of analgesics (I), compared to as-needed administration (C), affect pain intensity scores and patient satisfaction (O) during the first 48 hours after surgery (T)?
8. In oncology patients receiving chemotherapy (P), how does nurse-led nutritional counseling (I), compared to standard nutritional handouts (C), affect nutritional status and treatment tolerance (O) over a three-month treatment period (T)?
9. In adult patients recovering from stroke (P), how does early mobilization protocol implementation (I), compared to standard physical therapy referrals (C), affect functional independence measures (O) at discharge and 3 months post-discharge (T)?
10. In neonates in intensive care (P), how does clustered nursing care (I), compared to standard care delivery (C), affect physiological stability measures (O) over the first week of life (T)?
11. In adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (P), how does nurse-delivered teach-back education (I), compared to standard diabetes education (C), affect self-management behaviors and HbA1c levels (O) at 3 and 6 months (T)?
12. In surgical patients at risk for pressure injuries (P), how does a 2-hour repositioning schedule (I) compared to a 4-hour repositioning schedule (C) affect pressure injury incidence (O) during hospitalization (T)?
13. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), how does pulmonary rehabilitation with nurse coaching (I), compared to standard medication management (C), affect exercise tolerance and quality of life (O) over 6 months (T)?
14. In adults undergoing colonoscopy (P), how does nurse-delivered pre-procedure education with visual aids (I), compared to standard written instructions (C), affect patient anxiety levels and procedure adherence (O) at the time of the procedure (T)?
15. In patients with depression in outpatient settings (P), how does nurse-led cognitive behavioral therapy (I), compared to medication management alone (C), affect depression severity scores (O) after 12 weeks of treatment (T)?
16. In mechanically ventilated ICU patients (P), how does a daily sedation vacation protocol (I), compared to continuous sedation (C), affect ventilator days and ICU length of stay (O) during critical illness (T)?
17. In adult burn patients (P), how does virtual reality distraction (I), compared to standard analgesic administration (C), affect pain intensity during dressing changes (O) throughout the wound healing process (T)?
18. In women in active labor (P), how does continuous nursing support (I), compared to intermittent nursing checks (C), affect labor duration and maternal satisfaction (O) during the birthing process (T)?
19. In patients receiving palliative care (P), how does a nurse-implemented dignity therapy intervention (I), compared to standard psychosocial support (C), affect psychological distress and quality of life (O) during the final month of life (T)?
20. In adolescents with newly diagnosed asthma (P), how does nurse-led asthma self-management education using mobile applications (I), compared to traditional asthma education (C), affect emergency department visits and school absences (O) over 6 months (T)?

Best Intervention PICOT Question Example (highlighted above): Example #7 represents an ideal intervention PICOT question because it specifies all components: a well-defined population (postoperative patients with acute pain), a specific intervention with implementation details (scheduled administration), a practical comparison (as-needed administration), measurable outcomes (pain scores and satisfaction), and a realistic timeframe (48 hours).

2. Diagnosis PICOT Questions with examples 

What is a Diagnosis PICOT Question? Diagnosis questions evaluate the accuracy, reliability, sensitivity, or specificity of assessment tools, screening protocols, or diagnostic methods used in nursing practice.

Purpose & Application: Best used when determining which assessment approach yields the most accurate results. Particularly valuable when:

• Implementing new assessment tools
• Comparing different screening methods
• Evaluating the efficiency of triage protocols
• Determining which assessment approach is most time-effective
• Identifying the most sensitive early detection methods
• Validating nursing assessment techniques in specific populations

Diagnosis PICOT Question Template and Structure

In ________ (P – specific patient population), is/are ________ (I – diagnostic test or assessment method) compared to ________ (C – alternative test or assessment) more accurate in diagnosing or assessing ________ (O – specific condition or parameter) during ________ (T – timeframe for assessment)?

Diagnosis PICOT Question Examples

1. In adult emergency department patients with suspected sepsis (P), is the qSOFA score (I) compared to SIRS criteria (C) more accurate in identifying patients requiring intensive care (O) within the first 6 hours of presentation (T)?
2. In elderly residents of long-term care facilities (P), is the Braden Scale (I) compared to the Norton Scale (C) more accurate in predicting pressure injury development (O) over a 2-week period (T)?
3. In pediatric patients aged 3-10 years (P), is the FLACC pain scale (I) compared to self-reported pain using the Wong-Baker FACES scale (C) more accurate in assessing post-operative pain levels (O) during the first 24 hours after surgery (T)?
4. In pregnant women at 24-28 weeks gestation (P), is the one-step glucose tolerance test (I), compared to the two-step approach (C), more accurate in diagnosing gestational diabetes (O) at prenatal screening (T)?
5. In adult patients with suspected urinary tract infection (P), is nurse-performed dipstick urinalysis (I), compared to symptoms assessment (C), more accurate in identifying patients requiring antibiotic treatment (O) at initial assessment (T)?
6. In adult patients with heart failure (P), is B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) monitoring (I) compared to daily weight measurement (C) more accurate in detecting early decompensation (O) during outpatient follow-up (T)?
7. In post-surgical patients (P), is capnography monitoring (I), compared to pulse oximetry (C), more accurate in detecting early respiratory depression (O) during the first 24 hours of opioid administration (T)?
8. In adults with suspected stroke (P), is the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (I) compared to the Los Angeles Prehospital Stroke Screen (C) more accurate in identifying acute stroke (O) during initial emergency assessment (T)?
9. In newborns (P), is transcutaneous bilirubin measurement (I) compared to visual assessment (C) more accurate in identifying hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy (O) during the first week of life (T)?
10. In adolescents (P), is computerized screening (I) compared to nurse interview (C) more accurate in identifying high-risk behaviors (O) during routine health visits (T)?
11. In intensive care patients (P), is continuous electrocardiographic monitoring (I) compared to intermittent vital sign assessment (C) more accurate in detecting cardiac arrhythmias (O) during the first 48 hours after admission (T)?
12. In adult patients with diabetes (P), is continuous glucose monitoring (I) compared to fingerstick blood glucose testing (C) more accurate in detecting hypoglycemic episodes (O) over a 2-week period (T)?
13. In patients with chronic wounds (P), is wound measurement using digital photography (I) compared to manual ruler measurement (C) more accurate in tracking healing progress (O) during an 8-week treatment period (T)?
14. In adults with cognitive impairment (P), is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (I) compared to the Mini-Mental State Examination (C) more accurate in detecting mild cognitive dysfunction (O) during initial geriatric assessment (T)?
15. In patients with chronic pain (P), is the Brief Pain Inventory (I) compared to a simple numeric rating scale (C) more accurate in assessing pain interference with daily activities (O) at monthly follow-up visits (T)?
16. In adult trauma patients (P), is focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) (I), compared to physical examination (C), more accurate in detecting intra-abdominal bleeding (O) during the primary trauma survey (T)?
17. In patients at risk for falls (P), is the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model (I) compared to the Morse Fall Scale (C) more accurate in predicting fall events (O) during hospitalization (T)?
18. In adults with suspected deep vein thrombosis (P), is the Wells score with D-dimer testing (I) compared to symptoms assessment alone (C) more accurate in determining the need for ultrasound imaging (O) at initial evaluation (T)?
19. In postpartum women (P), is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (I), compared to clinical interview (C), more accurate in identifying postpartum depression (O) at the 6-week postpartum visit (T)?
20. In mechanically ventilated patients (P), is spontaneous breathing trial assessment (I) compared to rapid shallow breathing index (C) more accurate in predicting successful extubation (O) before ventilator weaning (T)?

Best Diagnosis PICOT Question Example: In pediatric patients aged 3-10 years (P), is the FLACC pain scale (I) compared to self-reported pain using the Wong-Baker FACES scale (C) more accurate in assessing post-operative pain levels (O) during the first 24 hours after surgery (T)?

3. Etiology PICOT Questions with Examples

What is an Etiology PICOT Question? Etiology questions investigate the causes, risk factors, or exposures contributing to health problems, disease development, or specific patient outcomes.

Purpose & Application: Best used when you need to understand causal relationships that impact patient health. Particularly valuable when:

• Identifying high-risk patient groups requiring enhanced surveillance
• Developing prevention strategies based on modifiable risk factors
• Allocating resources toward addressing root causes
• Designing targeted screening programs
• Understanding disease or condition mechanisms
• Informing patients about risk reduction

Etiology PICOT Question Template and Structure

Are ________ (P – specific patient population) who have/are exposed to ________ (I – risk factor or exposure) at increased/decreased risk for ________ (O – specific outcome or condition) compared to ________ (P – similar population) without ________ (C – the risk factor or with alternative exposure) over ________ (T – timeframe)?

Etiology PICOT Question Examples

1. Are adults with type 2 diabetes (P) who have untreated sleep apnea (I) at increased risk for poor glycemic control (O) compared to diabetic adults without sleep apnea (C) over one year (T)?
2. Are pregnant women (P) who work night shifts (I) at increased risk for preterm labor (O) compared to pregnant women working day shifts (C) during the third trimester (T)?
3. Are elderly patients (P) who take more than five medications daily (I) at increased risk for falls (O) compared to elderly patients taking fewer than five medications (C) over six months (T)?
4. Are postoperative patients (P) who are ambulated within 6 hours of surgery (I) at decreased risk for venous thromboembolism (O) compared to patients ambulated after 24 hours (C) during the first week after surgery (T)?
5. Are adolescents (P) who use electronic cigarettes (I) at increased risk for transitioning to conventional cigarette use (O) compared to non-e-cigarette users (C) over two years (T)?
6. Are intensive care patients (P) who receive chlorhexidine bathing (I) at decreased risk for hospital-acquired infections (O) compared to patients receiving soap and water bathing (C) during their ICU stay (T)?
7. Are children under 5 years (P) who attend daycare centers (I) at increased risk for recurrent respiratory infections (O) compared to home-cared children (C) during winter months (T)?
8. Are hospitalized elderly patients (P) who experience nursing shift changes more than twice daily (I) at increased risk for medication errors (O) compared to patients experiencing fewer shift changes (C) during hospitalization (T)?
9. Are women with gestational diabetes (P) who receive specialized nutritional counseling (I) at decreased risk for requiring insulin therapy (O) compared to women receiving standard dietary advice (C) during pregnancy (T)?
10. Are adult surgical patients (P) who receive preoperative warming (I) at decreased risk for surgical site infections (O) compared to patients receiving standard preparation (C) within 30 days of surgery (T)?
11. Are premature infants (P) who receive skin-to-skin care (I) at decreased risk for hypothermia (O) compared to infants in isolettes (C) during the first 24 hours of life (T)?
12. Are burn patients (P) who receive high-protein nutritional support (I) at decreased risk for delayed wound healing (O) compared to patients on standard hospital diets (C) during the acute treatment phase (T)?
13. Are adult patients with depression (P) who participate in regular exercise programs (I) at decreased risk for symptom recurrence (O) compared to non-exercising patients (C) over six months (T)?
14. Are nursing staff (P) who use patient lifting equipment (I) at decreased risk for back injuries (O) compared to staff using manual lifting techniques (C) over one year (T)?
15. Are patients with chronic kidney disease (P) who receive nurse-led fluid management education (I) at decreased risk for emergency dialysis (O) compared to patients receiving standard care (C) over three months (T)?
16. Are adult patients with heart failure (P) who self-monitor daily weights (I) at decreased risk for hospital readmission (O) compared to patients without self-monitoring (C) within 30 days of discharge (T)?
17. Are stroke patients (P) who receive dysphagia screening within 24 hours (I) at decreased risk for aspiration pneumonia (O) compared to patients with delayed screening (C) during the first two weeks post-stroke (T)?
18. Are diabetic patients (P) who participate in shared medical appointments (I) at decreased risk for complications (O) compared to patients in traditional one-on-one appointments (C) over one year (T)?
19. Are adults with mobility impairments (P) who receive home safety assessments (I) at decreased risk for household accidents (O) compared to those without assessments (C) over six months (T)?
20. Are patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P) who receive smoking cessation counseling (I) at decreased risk for exacerbations (O) compared to patients receiving standard care (C) over one year (T)?

 Ideal Etiology PICOT question example: Are postoperative patients (P) who are ambulated within 6 hours of surgery (I) at decreased risk for venous thromboembolism (O) compared to patients ambulated after 24 hours (C) during the first week after surgery (T)?

Because it identifies a specific population (postoperative patients), a well-defined exposure (early ambulation within 6 hours), a clinically important outcome (venous thromboembolism), a clear comparison group (ambulation after 24 hours), and a reasonable timeframe (first week after surgery).

4. Prevention PICOT Questions with Examples

What is a Prevention PICOT Question?: Prevention questions evaluate interventions, strategies, or approaches designed to reduce the risk or incidence of adverse health outcomes, complications, or disease development.

When to use Prevention PICOT Questions: Best used when you need to determine effective ways to prevent negative outcomes. Particularly valuable when:

• Implementing preventive care protocols
• Reducing complication rates
• Developing patient safety initiatives
• Creating health promotion programs
• Designing risk reduction strategies
• Planning primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention activities

Prevention PICOT Question Template and Structure

For ________ (P – specific patient population), does ________ (I – preventive intervention) reduce the risk of ________ (O – adverse outcome) compared with ________ (C – alternative approach or standard care) over ________ (T – timeframe)?

Prevention PICOT Question Examples

1. For hospitalized adults over 65 years (P), does a nurse-led hourly rounding protocol (I) reduce the incidence of falls (O) compared with standard call light response (C) during the hospital stay (T)?
2. For adult patients with indwelling urinary catheters (P), does a nurse-managed catheter removal protocol (I) reduce the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (O) compared with physician-dependent removal orders (C) during hospitalization (T)?
3. For pregnant women with risk factors for gestational diabetes (P), does early nutritional counseling in the first trimester (I) reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes diagnosis (O) compared with standard prenatal care (C) by the end of pregnancy (T)?
4. For surgical patients (P), does preoperative chlorhexidine bathing (I) reduce surgical site infection rates (O) compared with standard preoperative preparation (C) within 30 days after surgery (T)?
5. For nursing home residents with dementia (P), does implementation of a person-centered care model (I) reduce the use of physical restraints (O) compared with traditional care approaches (C) over six months (T)?
6. For patients at risk for pressure injuries (P), does a two-hour repositioning schedule (I) reduce pressure injury development (O) compared with a four-hour repositioning schedule (C) during the first two weeks of care (T)?
7. For adult oncology patients receiving chemotherapy (P), does prophylactic antiemetic administration (I) reduce the incidence of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (O) compared with as-needed administration (C) during the treatment cycle (T)?
8. For newborns in the NICU (P), does a noise reduction protocol (I) reduce stress behaviors and vital sign fluctuations (O) compared with standard NICU care (C) during the hospital stay (T)?
9. For patients with heart failure (P), does a structured discharge education program with follow-up calls (I) reduce 30-day readmission rates (O) compared with standard discharge instructions (C) over the first month post-discharge (T)?
10. For adults with type 2 diabetes (P), does nurse-led diabetes self-management education (I) reduce the development of diabetes complications (O) compared with physician-only management (C) over one year (T)?
11. For hospitalized patients receiving anticoagulant therapy (P), does a nurse-led anticoagulation monitoring protocol (I) reduce bleeding complications (O) compared with standard medication administration (C) during the hospital stay (T)?
12. For patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (P), does a daily sedation vacation protocol (I) reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia rates (O) compared with continuous sedation (C) during ICU stay (T)?
13. For postpartum women (P), does early lactation support within 6 hours after delivery (I) reduce breastfeeding discontinuation rates (O) compared with standard breastfeeding education (C) during the first six weeks postpartum (T)?
14. For adult patients with chronic wounds (P), does negative pressure wound therapy (I) reduce healing time (O) compared with conventional wound dressings (C) over an eight-week treatment period (T)?
15. For adolescents in school settings (P), does a nurse-led comprehensive sexual education program (I) reduce unplanned pregnancy rates (O) compared with abstinence-only education (C) over two years (T)?
16. For patients with asthma (P), does a personalized asthma action plan (I) reduce emergency department visits (O) compared with standard asthma education (C) over six months (T)?
17. For elderly patients after hip fracture repair (P), does a multidisciplinary fall prevention program (I) reduce subsequent falls (O) compared with standard rehabilitation (C) during the first year after surgery (T)?
18. For adults with hypertension (P), does home blood pressure monitoring with telemonitoring (I) reduce uncontrolled hypertension rates (O) compared with office-based monitoring only (C) over three months (T)?
19. For adult patients undergoing elective surgery (P), does preoperative carbohydrate loading (I) reduce postoperative insulin resistance and complications (O) compared with preoperative fasting (C) during the first 72 hours after surgery (T)?
20. For critical care patients (P), does a nurse-implemented early progressive mobility protocol (I) reduce ICU-acquired weakness (O) compared with standard physical therapy referrals (C) during the ICU stay (T)?

Perfect Example (highlighted above): Example #2 represents an ideal prevention PICOT question because it specifies a well-defined at-risk population (adult patients with indwelling urinary catheters), a specific preventive intervention (nurse-managed catheter removal protocol), an important outcome (catheter-associated UTI rates), a practical comparison (physician-dependent removal), and an appropriate timeframe (during hospitalization).

5. Prognosis/Prediction PICOT Questions

What is a Prognosis PICOT Question: Prognosis/prediction questions examine how certain factors, conditions, or interventions influence the course of illness, recovery trajectories, or future health outcomes in specific patient populations.

When to use a Prognosis PICOT question: Best used when you need to understand or predict patient outcomes over time. Particularly valuable when:

• Planning long-term care strategies
• Establishing realistic recovery expectations
• Developing discharge planning protocols
• Creating patient monitoring schedules
• Allocating resources based on predicted outcomes
• Designing follow-up care pathways

Prognosis/Prediction PICOT Question Template and Structure

In ________ (P – specific patient population), how does ________ (I – prognostic factor or predictor), compared to ________ (C – alternative factor or absence of factor), influence ________ (O – future outcome) over ________ (T – follow-up timeframe)?

Prognosis/Prediction PICOT Question Examples

1. In adult patients recovering from ischemic stroke (P), how does early mobilization within 24 hours (I), compared to bed rest for 48 hours (C), influence functional independence (O) at 3 months post-stroke (T)?
2. In adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (P), how does participation in a nurse-led diabetes education program (I), compared to standard physician counseling (C), influence glycemic control (O) over one year (T)?
3. In patients with heart failure (P), how does adherence to a low-sodium diet and medication regimen (I), compared to medication adherence alone (C), influence hospital readmission rates (O) within 90 days of discharge (T)?
4. In elderly patients discharged after hip fracture repair (P), how does participation in home-based rehabilitation (I), compared to outpatient rehabilitation (C), influence recovery of activities of daily living (O) at 6 months post-discharge (T)?
5. In adults undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (P), how does preoperative frailty (I), compared to normal functional status (C), influence postoperative complications and length of stay (O) during the first 30 days after surgery (T)?
6. In infants born prematurely at 28-32 weeks (P), how does kangaroo mother care (I), compared to conventional incubator care (C), influence neurodevelopmental outcomes (O) at 12 months corrected age (T)?
7. In adolescents with major depressive disorder (P), how does early intervention with cognitive behavioral therapy (I), compared to delayed treatment (C), influence academic performance and social functioning (O) over two years (T)?
8. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P), how does participation in pulmonary rehabilitation (I), compared to medication management alone (C), influence quality of life and exercise capacity (O) over six months (T)?
9. In women diagnosed with breast cancer (P), how does psychological resilience (I), compared to psychological distress (C), influence treatment adherence and recovery (O) during the first year after diagnosis (T)?
10. In patients undergoing major abdominal surgery (P), how does preoperative nutritional status (I), compared to standard preoperative preparation (C), influence wound healing and recovery time (O) within the first 30 days after surgery (T)?
11. In patients with chronic kidney disease (P), how does nurse-led self-management support (I), compared to standard nephrology care (C), influence disease progression rates (O) over two years (T)?
12. In adults recovering from traumatic brain injury (P), how does early cognitive rehabilitation (I), compared to delayed intervention (C), influence return to work or previous activities (O) at one year post-injury (T)?
13. In cancer survivors (P), how does regular physical activity (I), compared to a sedentary lifestyle (C), influence cancer recurrence rates (O) over five years (T)?
14. In patients after myocardial infarction (P), how does participation in cardiac rehabilitation (I), compared to standard follow-up care (C), influence cardiovascular event-free survival (O) over three years (T)?
15. In pregnant women with gestational diabetes (P), how does tight glycemic control (I) compared to standard management (C) influence maternal and neonatal outcomes (O) at delivery and 6 weeks postpartum (T)?
16. In patients with chronic pain (P), how does a multidisciplinary pain management approach (I), compared to medication management alone (C), influence pain intensity and functional status (O) over six months (T)?
17. In older adults discharged from the hospital (P), how does a transitional care program with home visits (I), compared to telephone follow-up (C), influence hospital readmission rates (O) within 30 days of discharge (T)?
18. In children with asthma (P), how does parental education about trigger avoidance (I), compared to symptom management education alone (C), influence emergency department visits (O) over one year (T)?
19. In patients with diabetic foot ulcers (P), how does hemoglobin A1c level at treatment initiation (I), compared to wound size (C), influence healing time (O) over a 12-week treatment period (T)?
20. In adults with severe mental illness (P), how does early engagement in community support services (I), compared to usual care (C), influence employment status and independent living (O) at one year after diagnosis (T)?

Ideal prognosis/prediction PICOT question: In patients with heart failure (P), how does adherence to a low-sodium diet and medication regimen (I), compared to medication adherence alone (C), influence hospital readmission rates (O) within 90 days of discharge (T)?

Because it identifies a specific population (heart failure patients), examines an important prognostic factor (adherence to both diet and medication vs. medication alone), focuses on a clinically significant outcome (readmission rates), and specifies an appropriate follow-up timeframe (90 days post-discharge).

6. Quality of Life/Meaning PICOT Questions

What is a Life/Meaning PICOT Question: Quality of life/meaning questions explore subjective experiences, perceptions, or the impact of conditions, treatments, or nursing interventions on patients’ well-being, satisfaction, or quality of life.

When to use a Life/Meaning PICOT Question: Best used when you need to understand the patient experience or subjective outcomes. Particularly valuable when:

• Developing patient-centered care approaches
• Evaluating the impact of interventions on well-being
• Understanding patient perspectives on care
• Assessing satisfaction with treatment options
• Exploring lived experiences of health conditions
• Designing holistic care interventions

Quality of Life/Meaning PICOT Question Template and Structure

How do ________ (P – specific patient population) with/receiving ________ (I – condition, situation, or intervention) perceive/experience ________ (O – quality of life aspect or phenomenon) during ________ (T – relevant timeframe)?

Quality of Life/Meaning PICOT Question Examples

1. How do adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (P) receiving nurse-led diabetes education (I) perceive their ability to self-manage their condition (O) during the first six months after diagnosis (T)?
2. How do adolescents with cancer (P) receiving chemotherapy (I) experience changes in body image and social relationships (O) during treatment and three months post-treatment (T)?
3. How do family caregivers of patients with advanced dementia (P) participating in a nurse-led support program (I) perceive their caregiving burden and quality of life (O) over six months (T)?
4. How do pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies (P) on bed rest (I) experience daily life and emotional well-being (O) during the third trimester (T)?
5. How do elderly patients with chronic pain (P) receiving non-pharmacological pain management (I) perceive pain control and functional ability (O) over a three-month intervention period (T)?
6. How do young adults with inflammatory bowel disease (P) using telemedicine for follow-up care (I) experience access to healthcare and disease management (O) over one year (T)?
7. How do burn survivors (P) undergoing rehabilitation (I) perceive body image and psychosocial adjustment (O) during the first year after injury (T)?
8. How do patients with advanced cancer (P) receiving palliative care (I) experience quality of life and symptom management (O) during the last three months of life (T)?
9. How do stroke survivors (P) participating in a community reintegration program (I) perceive their social participation and independence (O) during the first six months post-discharge (T)?
10. How do women who have undergone mastectomy (P), receiving nurse-led body image counseling (I), experience femininity and intimate relationships (O) during the first year after surgery (T)?
11. How do veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (P) participating in a mindfulness-based intervention (I) perceive stress management and sleep quality (O) over an eight-week program (T)?
12. How do parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (P) with access to family-centered care (I) experience parental role development and attachment (O) during hospitalization (T)?
13. How do patients on long-term hemodialysis (P) receiving supportive care coordination (I) perceive treatment burden and life satisfaction (O) over six months (T)?
14. How do adolescents with type 1 diabetes (P) using continuous glucose monitoring (I) experience disease management and social activities (O) during the school year (T)?
15. How do adults recovering from severe COVID-19 (P) participating in a post-COVID rehabilitation program (I) perceive respiratory function and fatigue (O) during the first three months of recovery (T)?
16. How do women after childbirth (P) receiving enhanced postpartum support (I) experience the transition to motherhood and emotional well-being (O) during the first six weeks postpartum (T)?
17. How do patients with chronic wounds (P) undergoing negative pressure wound therapy (I) perceive treatment comfort and daily activities (O) during the treatment period (T)?
18. How do individuals with spinal cord injury (P) participating in adaptive sports programs (I) experience self-efficacy and life satisfaction (O) over a one-year period (T)?
19. How do patients with ostomies (P) receiving specialized ostomy care education (I) perceive body image and social engagement (O) during the first six months after surgery (T)?
20. How do homeless individuals with chronic health conditions (P) accessing nurse-led street medicine programs (I) experience healthcare access and trust in healthcare providers (O) over a three-month engagement period (T)?

 Best quality of life/meaning PICOT question example: How do family caregivers of patients with advanced dementia (P) participating in a nurse-led support program (I) perceive their caregiving burden and quality of life (O) over a six-month period (T)?

How to Write a PICOT Question

Crafting an effective PICOT question requires precision and intent. Here’s a guide on how to write one:

1. Start with a background question: Identify a general area of interest (e.g., reducing infections in ICU patients).
2. Use question templates: Try “In [population], does [intervention] compared to [comparison] improve [outcome] within [time]?” to structure your thoughts.
3. Make it specific: Narrow the focus to create a question worth researching (e.g., “In ICU patients with central lines, does chlorhexidine bathing reduce infections?”).
4. Ensure it’s answerable: A good PICOT question should lead to measurable outcomes supported by the hierarchy of evidence.
5. Tailor to your specialty: Whether you’re addressing maternal health or ICU care, adapt the question to your clinical context.

P – Patient/Population

Definition: The specific group of patients or individuals to whom the question applies.

Considerations: Include relevant demographics (age, gender), clinical condition, setting (inpatient, community), and any distinguishing characteristics.

Example: “Adult patients with Type 2 diabetes in primary care settings”

I – Intervention/Indicator

Definition: The nursing action, treatment, assessment, or approach being considered.

Considerations: Be specific about what nurses would do, including frequency, duration, and method.

Example: “Daily foot examination using the Wagner classification system”

C – Comparison/Control

Definition: The alternative approach against which the intervention is measured.

Considerations: Often standard care, but could be another intervention, no intervention, or different frequencies/intensities.

Example: “Compared to weekly foot examinations”

O – Outcome

Definition: The measurable result or effect that you want to evaluate.

Considerations: Must be specific, measurable, and relevant to nursing care and patient well-being.

Example: “Incidence of foot ulcers requiring medical attention”

T – Time/Type

Definition: The timeframe for the intervention and outcome measurement, or the type of study/question.

Considerations: Be realistic about when effects would be observable; include follow-up periods when relevant.

Example: “Over six months”