Test Your Knowledge: P, I, O Question Components

Question 1

1. In patients with constipation, what is the effect of an abdominal massage on patients’ bowel movements?

P (Population),
I (Intervention/influence/exposure), or
O (Outcome)

Answer 1

ANSWER: I (Intervention/influence/exposure)
Therapy question: The issue is whether an Intervention of abdominal massage will affect bowel movements (the Outcome) among patients with constipation (the Population).

Question 2

2. Among pregnant women, does a prior miscarriage affect pregnancy-related distress?

P (Population),
I (Intervention/influence/exposure), or
O (Outcome)

Answer 2

ANSWER: P (Population)
Prognosis question: The issue is whether having a prior miscarriage (the influence/exposure, “I”) affects pregnancy-related distress (the Outcome) among pregnant women (the Population).

Question 3

3. Among elderly patients, does poor eyesight contribute to the occurrence of a fall?

P (Population),
I (Intervention/influence/exposure), or
O (Outcome)

Answer 3

ANSWER: O (Outcome)
Etiology question: The issue is whether poor eyesight (the influence/exposure, “I”) affects having a fall (the Outcome) among elderly patients (the Population).

Question 4

4. Among 8- to 10-year-olds, is the total energy expenditure lower among the children with congenital heart disease (CHD) than among those without CHD?

P (Population),
I (Intervention/influence/exposure), or
O (Outcome)

Answer 4

ANSWER: O (Outcome)
Prognosis question: The issue is whether having congenital heart disease (the influence/exposure, “I”) affects total energy expenditure (the Outcome) in 8- to 10-year-old children (the Population).

Question 5

5. Does the type of feeding for infants (breast vs. bottle) during the first 6 months of life affect the incidence of infections during early childhood?

P (Population),
I (Intervention/influence/exposure), or
O (Outcome)

Answer 5

ANSWER: I (Intervention/influence/exposure)
Etiology question: The issue is whether type of feeding (the influence/exposure, “I”) affects the incidence of infections (the Outcome) in infants (the Population).