|
|
Patient
or problem |
Intervention (treatment, test,
prognostic factor, cause, etc.) |
Outcome(s) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tips
for building a question |
Starting
with your patient, ask “How would I describe a group of patients similar to
mine?” Be precise, yet brief. |
Ask,
“Which main intervention am I considering?” Be specific.
|
Ask,
“What is the main alternative to compare with the intervention?” Again, be specific. |
Ask,
“What can I hope to accomplish?” or “What could this exposure really affect?” Be specific. |
Adapted
from Sackett and others,6 with permission.
|
Type
of question |
Patient
or problem |
Intervention
(treatment, test, prognostic factor, cause, etc.) |
Comparison
(if any) |
Outcome(s) |
|
|
||||
|
Therapy |
“For
children with posterior crossbite in the primary dentition… |
…will
occlusal grinding to remove premature contacts,… |
…when
compared to no intervention,… |
…prevent
posterior crossbite in the permanent dentition?” |
|
|
||||
|
Diagnostic |
“In
patients with undiagnosed oral lesions… |
…can
a toluidine blue mouth rinse,… |
…when
compared to an oral biopsy,… |
…effectively
detect oral cancer and precancer?” |
|
|
||||
|
Prognosis |
“For
patients with osseointegrated implants… |
…who
smoke,… |
…compared
to patients who do not smoke,… |
…what
is the proportion of implants lost at 10 years?” |
|
|
||||
|
Causation |
“For
my pregnant dental assistant… |
…exposed
regularly to the use of nitrous oxide for patient sedation… |
|
…what
is the risk of harm to her unborn baby?” |
Adapted
from Sackett and others,6 with permission.