Biostatistics & Research · patient case question
In framing this as a PICO question, what is the INTERVENTION?
Patient case: Patient who refuses whitening because of a cancer claim
Patient: Female, 38 years old
Chief Complaint: Interested in tooth whitening but has read online that it causes cancer.
Background: She raises the concern at consultation. The clinician wishes to find the best available evidence on whether vital tooth whitening is associated with oral cancer risk, in order to counsel her properly.
Current Findings: No relevant medical history. Generalised extrinsic staining. Sound dentition.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Tooth whitening
- A. No whitening is the COMPARISON or control condition.
- B. Oral cancer is the OUTCOME — the event being measured.
- C. Adults seeking cosmetic treatment constitute the POPULATION.
- D. CORRECT. PICO breaks a clinical question into Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome. Here the Population is adults undergoing cosmetic dental treatment, the INTERVENTION is tooth whitening, the Comparison is no whitening, and the Outcome is the incidence of oral cancer. The intervention is always the exposure or treatment being evaluated.
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