PICO
Medical abbreviation · Medical Research
| Stands for | Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
PICO stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, a medical research abbreviation.
Framework for turning a clinical uncertainty into an answerable, searchable question by specifying the patients or population, the intervention or exposure, the comparison and the outcomes of interest. It structures literature searches, systematic reviews and trial design.
Example: PICO: in adults with AF (P), does apixaban (I) versus warfarin (C) reduce stroke (O)?
Usage notes
Described by Richardson and colleagues in 1995. Variants add T for time frame or study type (PICOT, PICOS). Breaking a question down this way helps choose search terms and filters in PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Guideline panels also use PICO questions to define the scope of each recommendation.
Related abbreviations
More medical research abbreviations
- OHRP – Office for Human Research Protections
- OR – Odds ratio
- PBO – Placebo
- PCORI – Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
- PDUFA – Prescription Drug User Fee Act
- PI – Principal investigator
- PMA – Premarket approval
- PMID – PubMed identifier
- PP – Per-protocol (analysis)
- PPV – Positive predictive value
- PRISMA – Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
- PRO – Patient-reported outcome
See all 94 medical research abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.