The key to finding appropriate evidence is to ask a searchable, answerable question. Within Evidence-Based Practice, the PICO framework is often used as a guide for asking clinical questions. This framework can also be used for almost any topic if we consider broader definitions of the different components.
P = patient, problem, population
I = intervention
C = comparison intervention
O = outcomes
Have you noticed resources that refer to PICOT instead of PICO? Many EBP experts add T to the standard PICO framework. The T usually stands for time and can be helpful in making sure you're thinking of the appropriate time frame for your intervention and/or outcomes.
The following table provides a nice way to plan your search in a clear and logical way. Remember, sometimes you may not need to include search terms for every concept in your question.
