The O in PICO refers to the outcome(s) measured in a review or study.
Which outcomes to annotate
Reviews (methods) |
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Domain & Measure
- Outcome Domain refers to “what” is being measured for the outcome (e.g. anxiety, symptoms, exacerbations, quality of life, pain, etc.)
- Outcome Measure refers to the way the outcome was measured (e.g. Glasgow Outcome Scale, McGill Pain Questionnaire)
Domain & Measure with identical or synonymous concepts
- No need to annotate both Domain and Measure with identical or synonymous concepts
- Wherever possible annotate Domain using an appropriate Domain concept or Measure using an appropriate Measure concept - i.e. if the concept is available from the correct dropdown
- If a Measure concept isn't available in the Measure dropdown but is available in the Domain dropdown, then go ahead & annotate as if it was a domain
Composite Outcomes
- These outcomes should be annotated in the same Outcome group using OR or AND
Classification categories
The classification categories come from the COMET (Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials) Initiative. Their Outcome Taxonomy Guide is available HERE.
The expandable tables below list a number of examples but are by far definitive lists.
- List of Categories with examples of concepts that all within each category
- List of Concepts and what category to use for each one
How to Annotate
The table lists examples of which terms to select for commonly used outcomes
Outcome | Annotation (terms, categories, decisions) |
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Compliance with ... | |
Discontinuation of ... | |
Disease Specific Mortality | |
Frequency of Medication Use | |
Life expectancy | |
Resolution of symptoms | |
Response rate/Response to treatment | |
Safety and Tolerability | |
Survival | |
Symptom Burden | Duration of Symptom or Morbidity Index |
Time to ... | |
Withdrawals due to Adverse Events |