This chapter focuses on systematically developing a clinical question so that each component of the question is clear. Clinical questions are the indisputable driving force behind evidence-based practice (EBP), and without questions EBP would be unnecessary. The chapter presents the mnemonic PICOT (patient population, intervention, comparison, outcome, time frame), along with several opportunities to explore sample clinical questions that are under development and that are well written. It discusses the role of PICOT-digital data (PICOT-D) for nurses educated at the doctor of nursing practice level. Reflecting on the scope of the clinical questions presented as samples in the chapter exemplifies that PICOT can be applied in any nurse-patient interaction to improve patient outcomes. Patients can potentially benefit from direct care nurses being well versed in EBP. Nurses who are skilled at writing PICOT questions have a positive impact on patient outcomes, such as quality of life, satisfaction, and safety.
