PICOS is a variation of PICO and is helpful for quantitative studies which will include one specific study design, e.g. randomised controlled trials (RCTs).
P: Population, or Patient
- Who are you trying to help?
I: Intervention
- Which treatment, therapy or intervention applies?
C: Comparison (optional element)
- Which treatment, therapy or treatment comprises a direct comparison, if any?
O: Outcome
- What are you hoping to achieve?
S: Study Design
- What type of study applies?
Fresh food diet or supplements for reducing cancer risk in overweight middle aged men
P: Population, or Patient - Middle aged men with 'overweight' BMI scores
I: Intervention - Fresh food diet
C: Comparison - Dietary supplements
O: Outcome - Decreased cancer risk
S: Study Design - Quantitative studies
Is adopting a fresh food diet (I) more successful than dietary supplements (C) at decreasing cancer risk (O) in middle aged men with 'overweight' BMI scores (P)?
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