Evidence based practice...PICO question

[gfoster6993]

HI, I am in the LPN-RN transition program. If all goes well, I will be graduating May 10th of this year. So here is what I need a little help with. We are suppose to come up with a PICO question (Evidenced Based Practice).

PICO stands for

P-Population

I-intervention

C-comparison/control

O-Outcome

I have already sent in two different ideas to my instructor and both have been denied, so I don't know what I am doing wrong.

My first idea was: In a patient with osteoarthritis does taking glucosamine/chondroitin as good as or better than taking NSAIDS for pain?

My second one was : In patients requiring wound care, does tap water as compared to normal saline reduce the incidence of infection and decrease the cost of dressing changes?"

My instructor said that I would probably not find enough research to back this up.

Can somone please, please help me with a good question to do this project on. I have so many tests, on top of my clinicals on top of my final weighing heavily on my mind. I'm not asking for someone to do my work for me, just head me in the right direction. I'm not very good at writing papers anyway.....(and I'm wanting my BSN..boy am I in trouble:))

Any help would be more than appreciated! Hope you all have a good day! God bless

[maccheese]

I am confused, if you're supposed to just come up with a question, why does it matter if there is going to be research to back it up. As far as my understanding of PICO, its a process to address a healthcare based population that has an issue. I think your second question is a good PICO question. It addresses cost which is a huge healthcare issue.

[Skips, MSN, RN]

We are being taught that it's a PICOT question (T = time). Maybe you should make your question more broad, since it's guiding your research.

Here's an example:

P - In patients with a nasogastric tube

I - does gastric pH measurement

C - compared with aspiration of contents

O - verify accurate placement

T - after nasogastric tube placement

or....

P - In a group of patients over the age of 60

I - how does early ambulation on the day of surgery

C - versus ambulation the next morning

O - improve patient outcomes

T - during hospitalization