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Physician Associate Studies: EBP: Questions to Ask

Types of questions

Background questions general medical/health sciences knowledge

  • can be found in textbooks, medical dictionaries, etc. 
  • Examples
    • How overweight is a woman to be considered slightly obese?
    • What are the clinical manifestations of menopause?
    • What causes migraines?

Foreground question are specific questions that affect clinical decisions

  • Usually require a search in the primary medical  literature and best suited to the PICO question format
  • Examples
    • Is Crixivan effective when compared with placebo in slowing the rate of functional impairment in a 45 year old male patient with Lou Gehrig's Disease?
    • In pediatric patients with Allergic Rhinitis, are Intranasal steroids more effective than antihistamines in the management of Allergic Rhinitis symptoms?

Domains of Foreground Questions

Question Domain Patient/Population/Problem Intervention Control Outcome Measure Level of Evidence

Therapeutic/
Treatment

 Disease or condition Therapeutic measures: Exercise, medication, surgical, life style change Standard of care, additional intervention, placebo, no control Measurable improvement in impairment/disease factors Randomized Control Trial (RCT)
Prevention Risk factors, Medical history Preventative measures Alternative preventative measures or no control Measurable improvement in impairment/disease factors RCT or Prospective study
Diagnosis Specific disease or condition Diagnostic test or procedure Standard of care  Measurable results of test/procedure utility/sensitivity/odds ratio RCT or Cohort Study
Prognosis Duration & sensitivity of main prognostic factor or clinical problem Typically time related Typically not applicable Mortality rates or rates of disease progression Cohort Study and/or Case-Control Series
Etiology Risk factors, health disorders, medical history Strength/dose/duration of intervention or exposure (risk factor) of interest Typically not applicable Mortality rates or rates of disease progression Cohort Study

Source: PICO Framework and the Question Statement. University of Canberra

  • Last Updated: Nov 21, 2025 3:43 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.lib.miamioh.edu/pa
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