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  • Dental Hygiene: PICO

    What is Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?

    Definition: Evidence-Based Practice integrates best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care.  — QSEN Institute

    PICO Tutorial

    PICO(T)

    PICO(T) is a process used in evidence-based practice to help formulate questions.

    Frame the question:  Does hand washing reduce hospital acquired infections during stays of more than 14 days?

    PICO(T) Elements Example
    (patient/problem) Hospital acquired infection
    I  (intervention) Hand washing
    (comparison) No hand washing, other solutions, masks
    (outcome) Reduced infection
    T (time) *may not always be relevant Long term stays

    Create a search strategy:  Use Boolean Operators  AND, OR 

    Boolean Operator Search  Terms Results

    AND

    (narrows search)

    handwashing AND infection

    Retrieves citations with BOTH terms present

    OR

    (expands search)

    cross infection

    OR

    hospital infection

    Retrieves citations with either/any of the terms

    AND, OR

    handwashing OR hand washing

     AND

    cross infection OR hospital infection

    Retrieves citations with either form of handwashing, 

    then searches those records for cross infection or hospital infection