Understanding how to form effective PICOT questions is essential for any evidence-based practice. A well-structured PICOT question helps guide research, improve patient outcomes, and ensure nursing interventions are targeted and effective. This list provides 100 useful PICOT questions for nursing research, organized by topic and clinical domain.

What Is a PICOT Question?

The PICOT framework is used to create a focused clinical research question:

• P – Patient/Population/Problem
• I – Intervention
• C – Comparison
• O – Outcome
• T – Timeframe or Type of Study

Each PICOT element ensures the clinical question is precise and answerable through research. Examples of PICOT questions for nursing are especially valuable for improving practice. 

Intervention PICOT Questions

1. In adult ICU patients, does elevating the head of the bed reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia compared to lying flat?
2. In school-aged children, do toys during immunization reduce anxiety compared to no distraction?
3. In cancer patients, does using a pain diary improve pain management over three months compared to standard methods?
4. In obese adolescents, does a school-based health program lower BMI compared to no intervention over six months?
5. In nurses, does peer-led mental health training reduce stress compared to no training in three months?
6. In elderly adults, does daily walking decrease fall risk compared to no exercise over six months?
7. In patients undergoing chemotherapy, does ginger reduce nausea compared to antiemetics alone?
8. In diabetic patients, does daily foot inspection reduce ulcer formation compared to weekly checks?
9. In surgical patients, does early ambulation reduce recovery time compared to bed rest?
10. In teenagers, does mindfulness training reduce test anxiety compared to no intervention?
11. In patients post-stroke, does occupational therapy improve mobility compared to no therapy in six weeks?
12. In asthma patients, does the use of a peak flow meter improve symptom control compared to standard care?
13. In pregnant women, does prenatal yoga reduce labor duration compared to no exercise?
14. In ICU patients, does hourly rounding decrease pressure ulcers compared to routine care?
15. In nursing students, does simulation-based training improve IV insertion success compared to traditional instruction?
16. In hospitalized patients, does music therapy reduce reported pain compared to silence?
17. In patients with chronic back pain, does aquatic therapy improve function compared to physical therapy alone?
18. In high-risk newborns, does kangaroo care reduce infection rates compared to incubator care?
19. In smokers, does group counseling improve quit rates compared to individual counseling after eight weeks?
20. In postoperative patients, does aromatherapy reduce nausea compared to placebo?

Therapy PICOT Questions

1. In elderly women, does tai chi improve balance compared to standard physiotherapy?
2. In post-op patients, does cold therapy reduce swelling better than room temperature compresses?
3. In infants, does skin-to-skin contact improve weight gain compared to traditional swaddling?
4. In surgical patients, does pre-op carbohydrate loading reduce insulin resistance compared to fasting?
5. In dementia patients, does music therapy improve mood compared to standard care?
6. In children with ADHD, does yoga reduce hyperactivity compared to no physical activity?
7. In diabetic patients, does mobile app tracking improve glucose control compared to handwritten logs?
8. In stroke survivors, does mirror therapy improve motor function compared to traditional rehab?
9. In heart failure patients, does remote monitoring reduce hospital readmissions compared to in-person visits?
10. In laboring women, does hydrotherapy reduce perceived pain compared to epidural use?
11. In geriatric patients, does vitamin D supplementation reduce falls compared to no supplementation?
12. In PTSD patients, does EMDR therapy reduce symptoms compared to talk therapy?
13. In surgical units, does nurse-led pain management improve patient satisfaction compared to physician-led plans?
14. In cancer survivors, does journaling improve psychological well-being compared to no journaling?
15. In migraine sufferers, does acupuncture reduce headache frequency compared to standard medication?
16. In ICU patients, does early physical therapy reduce delirium duration compared to delayed therapy?
17. In elderly men, does strength training increase bone density more than walking over six months?
18. In patients with insomnia, does CBT improve sleep quality more than medication over eight weeks?
19. In pregnant women with anxiety, does mindfulness training improve coping compared to no intervention?
20. In COPD patients, does pulmonary rehab reduce ER visits compared to usual care?

Etiology PICOT Questions

1. In preterm infants, does mechanical ventilation increase the risk of chronic lung disease compared to CPAP?
2. In young women, does oral contraceptive use increase blood clot risk compared to IUDs?
3. In factory workers, does prolonged noise exposure lead to hearing loss compared to office workers?
4. In adolescents, does energy drink consumption increase risk of arrhythmias compared to non-consumers?
5. In obese children, does family history increase the likelihood of type 2 diabetes?
6. In shift workers, does night shift correlate with depression more than day shift?
7. In men aged 40+, does red meat consumption increase colon cancer risk more than plant-based diets?
8. In infants, does bottle-feeding increase the risk of ear infections compared to breastfeeding?
9. In nurses, does chronic understaffing increase burnout compared to adequate staffing?
10. In elderly adults, does polypharmacy raise fall risk more than single-medication use?

Diagnosis PICOT Questions

1. In elderly women, is DEXA scan more effective than X-ray in detecting osteoporosis?
2. In children, is saliva testing more accurate than nasal swabs for flu diagnosis?
3. In diabetic patients, does A1C detect glucose control more reliably than daily glucose logs?
4. In head trauma patients, does CT detect brain bleed faster than MRI?
5. In pregnant women, is ultrasound more accurate than palpation for fetal position detection?
6. In septic patients, does procalcitonin testing detect infection faster than standard blood tests?
7. In cancer patients, does PET scan show metastasis more clearly than MRI?
8. In suspected appendicitis cases, does ultrasound reduce need for CT without compromising diagnosis?
9. In stroke patients, does a FAST exam correlate with an actual ischemic event compared to traditional physical exam?
10. In adults with chest pain, is high-sensitivity troponin more accurate than ECG in diagnosing MI?

Prevention PICOT Questions

1. In hospital staff, does hand hygiene training reduce MRSA infection more than posters alone?
2. In elderly patients, does flu vaccine prevent hospitalization better than no vaccination?
3. In teens, does abstinence-only education reduce STI rates compared to comprehensive sex ed?
4. In surgical patients, do prophylactic antibiotics reduce infections more than antiseptic prep alone?
5. In diabetics, does annual eye screening reduce vision loss more than every three years?
6. In children, does helmet use reduce head injury risk in biking accidents more than no helmet?
7. In newborns, does vitamin K injection reduce bleeding disorders more than oral supplementation?
8. In healthcare workers, do N95 masks prevent COVID better than surgical masks?
9. In ICU patients, does chlorhexidine mouthwash prevent VAP more than saline rinse?
10. In pregnant women, does folic acid reduce neural tube defects more than standard diet?

Quality of Life / Meaning PICOT Questions

1. In terminal cancer patients, does palliative care improve quality of life compared to standard care?
2. In elderly widows, does social group participation reduce loneliness compared to staying home?
3. In stroke survivors, does art therapy increase self-esteem more than talk therapy?
4. In chronic pain patients, does support group participation improve emotional well-being compared to medication only?
5. In caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients, does respite care reduce stress more than no support?
6. In children with autism, does play therapy increase engagement compared to classroom-only approaches?
7. In nurses, does scheduled vacation time improve job satisfaction more than unscheduled leave?
8. In ICU survivors, does follow-up counseling improve mental health outcomes compared to discharge without support?
9. In heart attack patients, does spiritual counseling improve recovery outlook compared to standard post-care?
10. In chronic illness patients, does journaling improve mood more than verbal check-ins?

From diagnosis to therapy to quality of life, you’ll find PICOT examples nursing that connect with current issues. 

These questions help you develop focused, evidence-based arguments in your research. 

Whether you’re writing a paper, conducting a study, or looking for inspiration, refer back to these 100 PICOT question examples nursing to spark your next research idea.

20 Additional Bonus PICOT Questions (Mixed Types)

1. In postpartum mothers, does breastfeeding education increase exclusive breastfeeding compared to pamphlets?
2. In adolescent girls, does HPV vaccination reduce cervical cancer risk more than no vaccine?
3. In smokers, does nicotine patch help more than gum for quitting in four weeks?
4. In obese patients, does intermittent fasting reduce BMI faster than calorie counting?
5. In elderly men, does resistance training reduce hip fractures more than walking?
6. In asthma patients, does peak flow monitoring reduce ER visits more than symptom journaling?
7. In adolescents with anxiety, does CBT reduce school absenteeism more than medication?
8. In dialysis patients, does home dialysis improve quality of life more than in-center?
9. In burn patients, does silicone sheet use reduce scarring compared to standard gauze?
10. In diabetic pregnant women, does dietary counseling reduce complications more than standard care?
11. In ICU nurses, does team debriefing reduce trauma symptoms more than no debriefing?
12. In NICU babies, does reduced noise improve weight gain compared to standard noise levels?
13. In ERs, does bedside triage reduce wait times compared to central triage?
14. In high school athletes, does pre-season conditioning reduce injuries more than no prep?
15. In Parkinson’s patients, does dance therapy improve gait more than physical therapy?
16. In depressed teens, does animal-assisted therapy reduce symptoms more than CBT?
17. In new nursing grads, does mentorship reduce turnover more than no mentorship?
18. In Alzheimer’s patients, does music recall improve memory more than puzzles?
19. In ICU patients, does early mobilization reduce mortality compared to standard care?
20. In cancer patients, does peer support improve coping skills more than family-only support?

This comprehensive list offers real, practical nursing PICOT questions suitable for essays, research papers, or capstone projects. Each one reflects the types of clinical inquiries nurses face and allows students to explore their interests in real-world healthcare settings.

Whether you’re reviewing nursing PICOT question examples or crafting your own examples, this list provides a foundation.

This guide was created for nursing students who need actionable, categorized 100 useful PICOT questions for nursing research that meet today’s clinical standards.