Foreground questions seek evidence to answer a need for clinical information related to a specific patient, an intervention or therapy. Identifying the PICO (T)* elements helps to focus your question:
Example question: Does handwashing among healthcare workers reduce hospital acquired infection?
| Example | |
|---|---|
| P (problem/patient/population) | hospital acquired infection |
| I (intervention/indicator) |
handwashing |
| C (comparison) | no handwashing; masks; other solutions |
| O (outcome of interest) | reduced infection |