Framing a Question Flashcards
Formulate the Topic
- Confirm the need for a new review
- Develop an analytic framework
- Use a standard format to articulate each question of interest ( for example: PICO(TS))
- State a rationale for each question
- Refine each question
Classifying Question Types
How to identify the question
What proportion of the population is newly diagnosed with this problem each year?
Incidence
What proportion of the population is currently living with this problem?
Prevalence
What should be done to treat this problem?
Therapy
Will detecting this problem early, before symptoms, make a difference in my health?
Screening
How good is this test at detecting this problem?
Diagnostic accuracy
What is the likely outcome of this problem?
Prognosis
Will there be any negative side effects?
Harm
What causes this problem?
Etiology
How can this problem be prevented?
Prevention
Why similar studies may be different?
- patient population
- inclusion and exclusion criteria
- exposure definition/intervention composition, dose, timing
- comparison group/controls
- management protocol
- outcome definition
- quality of design and execution
- analysis
What are the steps in the practice of evidence-based health care?
- Frame the question you want to answer
- Find the best evidence
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The Question Informs the Process
-Well-formulated questions determine: criteria used to select studies, development of the search strategy,
PICO(TS)
p: patient or population at hand
i: intervention or exposure
c: comparison’
o: clinical outcomes
additional elements: T: time
s: setting
