In Module 1, we learned how to construct a well-built clinical question. Module 2 begins by looking at how to convert a well-built clinical question into a strong search strategy for your literature search.
Example question from Module 1: In patients with osteoarthritis of the knee is hydrotherapy more effective than traditional physiotherapy in relieving pain?
Constructing a well-built clinical question will lead directly to a well-built search strategy. Note that you may not use all the information in PICO or well-built clinical question in your search strategy, and in fact, it can often be more effective NOT to address all of the PICO elements.
Also, some databases include a "Clinical Queries" field that allows you to select the study type. In the following example we did not include the word therapy. Instead we used the Clinical Query for Therapy for the publication type, randomised controlled trial, to get at the concept of treatment.
| PICO |
Clinical Question |
Search Terms / Strategy |
| Patient, Population (or Problem) |
Knee osteoarthritis |
knee, osteoarthritis |
| Intervention |
hydrotherapy |
hydrotherapy, water therapy, whirlpool baths, aquatherapy |
| Comparison or Control (optional) |
traditional physiotherapy |
phsyiotherapy, physical therapy |
| Outcome |
relief of pain |
pain |
| Type of Question |
Therapy |
Clinical Query – Therapy/narrow
or
Limit to randomised controlled trial as document type |
|
Type of Study
|
RCT |
Clinical Query – Therapy/narrow
or
Limit to randomised controlled trial as document type |
