A quantitative approach can answer many different types of questions, but all can be formatted by following the PICO(T) Model outlined below:
Therapy
In ___[P]___, do/does ___[I]___ result in ___[O]____ when compared with ___[C]___ over ___[T]____?
Example: In nursing home residents with osteoporosis, do hip protectors result in fewer injuries from slips, trips, and falls when compared with standard osteoporosis drug therapy over the course of their stay?
Etiology
Are ___[P]___ with ___[I]___ over ____[T]____ more likely to ___[O]____ when compared with ___[C]___ ?
Example: Are female non-smokers with daily exposure to second-hand smoke over a period of ten years or greater more likely to develop breast cancer when compared with female non-smokers without daily exposure to second-hand smoke?
Diagnosis
Is/are ___[I]___ performed on ___[P]___ more effective than ___[C]___ over ___[T]____in ___[O]____?
Example: Are self-reporting interviews and parent reports performed on children aged 5-10 more effective than parent reports alone over a four-week consultation process in diagnosing depression?
Prevention
In ___[P]___, do/does ___[I]___ result in ___[O]____ when compared with ___[C]___ over ___[T]____?
Example: In emergency room visitors, do hand sanitizing stations result in fewer in-hospital infections when compared with no hand sanitizing stations over a year-long pilot period?
Prognosis
Do/does ___[I]___ performed on ___[P]___ lead to ___[O]___ over ___[T]____compared with ___[C]____?
Example: Do regular text message reminders performed on patients recently diagnosed with diabetes lead to a lower occurrence of forgotten insulin doses over the first six months of treatment compared with no reminders?