Evidence Based Health Care

Library of the Health Sciences

PICO to Search Terms

Now that you have a clinical question in PICO form, you are ready to begin searching the literature for evidence. Start with two (or maybe three...) terms from your question and use them to search in a research database.

For example:

PICO Question - In children with acute otitis media, do topical analgesics or ibuprofen/acetaminophen reduce pain more rapidly?

PubMed search - acute otitis media AND topical analgesics AND ibuprofin

Start your search here...

The research databases listed below are great places to start your search.

*Locating relevant search results can be challenging. If you find yourself spending more than 10 or 15 minutes without success, it's time to Ask a Librarian to help you build a search strategy.