HW3 Question 10

HW3 Question 10

by Elan Guterman -

Hi,

Question about 10a and 10b where we are being asked about the PICO elements of a target trial and the PICO elements of an observational study. 

In an observational study, we might choose the word "exposure" instead of "intervention" (and there are practicalities about that exposure in "real world" observational settings). Beyond this distinction, should we be thinking about PICO for trials and observational studies differently i.e. should we be approaching 10a PICO and 10b PICO differently? 

If both situations are a hypothetical ideal then I find myself using the same PICO for both but the question suggests this could be an incorrect approach.

Thanks for the clarification,

Elan

Re: HW3 Question 10

by June Chan -
Hi Elan, it sounds like you are partly on the right track. For trials, “I” is for intervention, for observational studies, exchange the “I” with “E” for exposure (PECO). In both cases, “C” is the comparison group for the intervention or exposure.

When you say you find the PICO for both to be the same, that will depend on how you set up your specific question and target trial. It is possible they could be very close, though, for the observational study, the idea is to propose something that one could more likely actually do. So the target trial gives you the ideal, and the observational study is what one could potentially actually do. Discussing how close these are or not (and the consequences), is part of the last part of q10a.

I hope this makes sense/helps.

Thanks,
JM Chan