1. PICO model for developing EBM questions

2. PICO method for EBM questions - about therapy and diagnosis
Population
Intervention
(predictive
variable)
Comparison
Outcome
Therapy
(controlled
clinical
trial)
with
certain
condition
Treatment
of interest
Placebo or
some
other control
Out-
come(s) of
Interest
Diagnosis
(cross-
sectional
study)
potential
diagnosis of
Diagnostic or
screening test
Gold
standard
or reference
test
True and
false
positives
and
negatives 2

3. PICO method for EBM questions – about prognosis
Population
Intervention
(pred.var.)
Comparison
Outcome
Prognosis
(cohort
study)
with
certain
condition (at
a uniform
and early
point in its
course i.e.
an inception
cohort)
Prognostic
variable
Similar
population with
a comparison
category; or
no comparison
done and cohort
is followed for
outcome 3

4. PICO method for EBM questions – about aetiology
Population
Intervention
(predictive
factor)
Comparison
Outcome
Aetiology
(case
control
study)
with
certain
condition
Risk or
aetiological
factors
Similar
population
but
without the
Odds for
risk
factors in
the
two group
(cohort
the risk
factor
The risk factor
without
Condition(s) 4