STEP 4: DEFINE THE OUTCOME

• Ask: “What can I hope to accomplish” or:
• “What could this exposure really affect?”
• Be Specific.

“...lead to lower mortality or morbidity from stroke? Does the benefit exceed the increased risk of CNS bleeding associated with a fall?”

Remember, clinical questions can arise from all these areas, not just from treatment/therapy:

• Etiology
• Differential diagnosis
• Diagnostic tests
• Prognosis
• Therapy Prevention

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Created by John Wiecha, Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine.
Website designed by Stefanie Curry, Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine.
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