Evidence Based Practice Questions
with Answers
What are background questions? - Ans -General knowledge (e.g., Why do strokes
occur?)
What are foreground questions? - Ans -Clinically focused, patient-centered (e.g.,
What is the most effective treatment for children with ADHD?)
What is the PICO Framework? - Ans -Used to create clear, focused clinical questions.
What does the 'P' mean in PICO? - Ans -Population (e.g., stroke patients)
What does the 'I' mean in PICO? - Ans -Intervention (e.g., a new exercise)
What does the 'C" mean in PICO? - Ans -Comparison (e.g., standard exercise or no
treatment)
What does the 'O' mean in PICO? - Ans -Outcome (e.g., improved walking ability)
What are PICO questions? - Ans -Help narrow down searches to the most relevant
evidence.
What are Boolean Operators? - Ans -Tools to combine search terms and refine search
results.
1
Page
what does 'AND' mean? - Ans -Narrows search (must include both terms)
,What does 'OR' mean? - Ans -Broadens search (includes either term)
what does 'NOT' mean? - Ans -Excludes terms
what are examples of AND? - Ans -Searching 'walking AND stroke' narrows results.
what are examples of OR? - Ans -Searching 'walking OR gait' broadens results
(different words for similar concepts).
what are examples of NOT? - Ans -Searching 'brain cancer NOT adults' filters out
adult studies, focusing on children.
what are databases? - Ans -Use databases like PubMed to enter PICO-based search
terms combined with Boolean operators.
what is a search Strategy? - Ans -Helps find relevant articles quickly (e.g., combining
'stroke AND exercise AND walking' yields fewer, more relevant papers than a broad search).
what is Truncation? - Ans -Use the asterisk (**) to search word stems and include
variations (e.g., 'laryng*' retrieves laryngitis, laryngoscope, larynx, etc.).
what are Pros of PICO? - Ans -Helps focus clinical questions and narrows search
results efficiently.
what are Cons of PICO? - Ans -May be too narrow if the comparison element is
2
unknown or irrelevant (sometimes just P and O are used).
Page
, what is Exclusion in PICO? - Ans -Can exclude relevant papers if terms are too strict
(e.g., searching only 'larynx' may miss 'laryngitis').
Why is PICO important? - Ans -Designing a clear clinical question using PICO and
combining it with Boolean operators is essential to efficiently find high-quality, relevant
evidence for patient care.
what is strategic searching? - Ans -Being strategic in your search will save time and
improve the quality of evidence you find.
What is research? - Ans -the systematic investigation and analysis of information to
generate evidence that informs and improves professional decision-making
Why is research important? - Ans -It underscores the safety and the efficacy of the
treatments we do.
We need to be conscious of the everchanging landscape of the evidence, since it is never
static
What are the major types of research design? - Ans -Animal based research
Ideas, editorials and opinions
Case reports
Case studies
Case control studies
Cohort studies
Randomized control double blind studies
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
3
Page
with Answers
What are background questions? - Ans -General knowledge (e.g., Why do strokes
occur?)
What are foreground questions? - Ans -Clinically focused, patient-centered (e.g.,
What is the most effective treatment for children with ADHD?)
What is the PICO Framework? - Ans -Used to create clear, focused clinical questions.
What does the 'P' mean in PICO? - Ans -Population (e.g., stroke patients)
What does the 'I' mean in PICO? - Ans -Intervention (e.g., a new exercise)
What does the 'C" mean in PICO? - Ans -Comparison (e.g., standard exercise or no
treatment)
What does the 'O' mean in PICO? - Ans -Outcome (e.g., improved walking ability)
What are PICO questions? - Ans -Help narrow down searches to the most relevant
evidence.
What are Boolean Operators? - Ans -Tools to combine search terms and refine search
results.
1
Page
what does 'AND' mean? - Ans -Narrows search (must include both terms)
,What does 'OR' mean? - Ans -Broadens search (includes either term)
what does 'NOT' mean? - Ans -Excludes terms
what are examples of AND? - Ans -Searching 'walking AND stroke' narrows results.
what are examples of OR? - Ans -Searching 'walking OR gait' broadens results
(different words for similar concepts).
what are examples of NOT? - Ans -Searching 'brain cancer NOT adults' filters out
adult studies, focusing on children.
what are databases? - Ans -Use databases like PubMed to enter PICO-based search
terms combined with Boolean operators.
what is a search Strategy? - Ans -Helps find relevant articles quickly (e.g., combining
'stroke AND exercise AND walking' yields fewer, more relevant papers than a broad search).
what is Truncation? - Ans -Use the asterisk (**) to search word stems and include
variations (e.g., 'laryng*' retrieves laryngitis, laryngoscope, larynx, etc.).
what are Pros of PICO? - Ans -Helps focus clinical questions and narrows search
results efficiently.
what are Cons of PICO? - Ans -May be too narrow if the comparison element is
2
unknown or irrelevant (sometimes just P and O are used).
Page
, what is Exclusion in PICO? - Ans -Can exclude relevant papers if terms are too strict
(e.g., searching only 'larynx' may miss 'laryngitis').
Why is PICO important? - Ans -Designing a clear clinical question using PICO and
combining it with Boolean operators is essential to efficiently find high-quality, relevant
evidence for patient care.
what is strategic searching? - Ans -Being strategic in your search will save time and
improve the quality of evidence you find.
What is research? - Ans -the systematic investigation and analysis of information to
generate evidence that informs and improves professional decision-making
Why is research important? - Ans -It underscores the safety and the efficacy of the
treatments we do.
We need to be conscious of the everchanging landscape of the evidence, since it is never
static
What are the major types of research design? - Ans -Animal based research
Ideas, editorials and opinions
Case reports
Case studies
Case control studies
Cohort studies
Randomized control double blind studies
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
3
Page
