P = Population/Patient/Problem - How would I describe the problem or a group of patients similar to mine? I = Intervention - What main intervention, prognostic factor or exposure am I considering? C = Comparison - Is there an alternative to compare with the intervention? O = Outcome - What do I hope to accomplish, measure, improve or affect?

Element of the clinical question	Population/Patient/Problem  Describe as accurately  as possible the patient or  group of patients of interest.	Intervention (or cause, prognosis) What is the main intervention or therapy you wish to consider? Including an exposure to disease, a diagnostic test, a prognostic factor, a treatment, a patient perception, a risk factor, etc.	Comparison (optional) Is there an alternative treatment to compare? Including no disease, placebo, a different prognostic factor, absence of risk factor, etc.	Outcome What is the clinical outcome, including a time horizon if relevant?
Example	In patients with acute bronchitis,	do antibiotics	none	reduce sputum production, cough or days off?
Example	In children with cancer	what are the current treatments	in the management of fever and infection?
Example	Among family-members of patients undergoing diagnostic procedures	does standard care,	listening to tranquil music, or audio taped comedy routines	make a difference in the reduction of reported anxiety.

     Fill in the blanks with information from your clinical scenario: THERAPY In_______________, what is the effect of ________________on _______________ compared with _________________? PREVENTION For ___________ does the use of _________________ reduce the future risk of ____________ compared with ______________? DIAGNOSIS OR DIAGNOSTIC TEST Are (Is) ________________ more accurate in diagnosing _______________ compared with ____________? PROGNOSIS Does ____________ influence ______________ in patients who have _____________? ETIOLOGY Are ______________ who have _______________ at ______________ risk for/of ____________ compared with _____________ with/without______________? MEANING How do _______________ diagnosed with _______________ perceive __________________? Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.