Starting your search or Scoping Review, Systematic Review or Reviews of Evidence using a PRISMA flow diagram
Normal database searching is called cherry-picking as it can be quite ad hoc in its approach. For a review of evidence or a systematic review, you will need to be more methodical in your search approach and document all the steps taken in your search strategy.
Note. From "Other types of reviews" [video], by UT Librarian, 2021, July 24. YouTube. (https://youtu.be/kukQZla8SSg). Copyright 2021 by UT Librarian.
Developing your review question
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Population Patient Problem |
What are the characteristics of the Population or Patient? |
Example: In middle-aged, male amputees suffering phantom limb pain |
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Intervention or Exposure |
How do you wish to Intervene? What do you want to do with this patient - treat, diagnose, observe, etc.? |
Example: is gabapentin |
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Comparison or Control |
What is the Comparison or alternative to the intervention - placebo, different drug or therapy, surgery, etc.? |
Example: compared with placebo |
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Outcome |
What are the possible outcomes - morbidity, death, complications, etc.? |
Example: effective in decreasing pain symptoms |
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Full review question |
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PICO is a framework for developing a focused clinical question.
PICO is used for Quantitative studies worksheet
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Population Patient Problem |
What are the characteristics of the Population or Patient?
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Example: What caregivers are providing home based care to patients with Alzheimer’s disease |
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Interest |
Interest relates to a defined event, activity, experience, or process |
Example: experience in |
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Context |
Context is the setting or distinct characteristics |
Example: Australia |
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Full review question |
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PICo is used for Qualitative studies worksheet
| P: Patient, Population, Problem |
- Who are the patients or community being affected? - What are their symptoms, age, gender etc? |
Example: People living with dementia |
| I: Intervention | - What is being done for patient/population e.g. screening, surgery, rehabilitation, services etc.? | Example: Playing music |
| O: Outcomes or themes | - Are you looking for improvements in pain, responsiveness to treatment, mobility, quality of life? | Example: Reduced agitation |
Does playing individualised music (I) reduce agitation (O) in people living with dementia (P)?
PIO is particularly helpful for qualitative questions.
| P: Population | Who are you studying? Infants? Males who are between the ages of 55 and 60? Adolescent females? | Example: infants |
| E: Exposure | What is your population exposed to? Baby aspirin? Soy supplements? Peanuts? | Example: exposure to soy milk |
| O: Outcome | What is the result of the exposure on your population? Lowered risk for heart attacks? Food allergies? Increased menstrual cramps? | Example: peanut allergy |
The SPIDER question format was adapted from the PICO tool to search for qualitative and mixed-methods research.
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S: Sample |
Sample is similar to Patient/Population of PICO. This is the group of people you are interesting in studying qualitatively. | Example: clinicians |
| P&I: Phenomenon of Interest | The Phenomenon of Interest can be similar to Intervention of PICO. This can be viewed as the topic of the research. | Example: Evidence Based Practice |
| D: Design |
Design can be viewed as the techniques used by the qualitative researchers to gather their data. The design choice depends on what your qualitative research design plan will be:
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Example: Interviews or Focus Groups |
| E: Evaluation | Evaluation is similar to Outcomes of PICO. | Example: Barriers to use of EBP |
| R: Research type |
Research type can be viewed as the type of qualitative research that could have been used:
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Example: Phenomenology |
Example: "What are the barriers felt by clinicians that lead to the reluctance to use Evidence Based Practice in practice?"