1. Clinical queries
| Questions should be both framed and analysed using the P I C O formula. | ||
| P | Patient population /clinical problem | Who is the question about? What is the clinical problem? |
|---|---|---|
| I | Intervention (study factor) /exposure | What is being done to the patient? Is an exposure the cause of a problem? |
| C | Comparator (intervention or study factor) | What is being compared? |
| O | Outcome | What outcomes are you interested in? |
| Question (examples) | Question Type | Patient (population/disease) | Intervention(Exposure)/Comparison | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How accurate is mammographic screening in the diagnosis of breast cancer in obese women? | Diagnosis | In obese women | is mammography | an accurate tool for diagnosing breast cancer? |
| How effective is mass screening in reducing mortality / increasing survival from breast cancer? | Therapy | In women with previously undiagnosed breast cancer | does mass screening compared with no mass screening | have a positive effect on survival rates. |
| Does the survival of women with breast cancer differ when a total mastectomy is performed as opposed to a lumpectomy. | Therapy | In patients with breast cancer | does total mastectomy versus lumpectomy | have a more postive effect on survival rates |
| Is there any evidence that smoking increases the risk of breast cancer in women? | Aetiology | Is there evidence that women | who smoke versus non-smokers | are more likely to develop breast cancer |
| What is the prognosis for obese women diagnosed with breast cancer? | Prognosis | In patients diagnosed with breast cancer do obese women compared those of a normal weight | have a better or worse prognosis in terms of survival. |
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