Using the PICOT and SWOT methodologies to analyse clinical studies

Randomized studies, meta analyses or registries can be complex to interpret. By applying PICOT and SWOT, readers are encouraged to take ownership via logical methods to analyse and develop their critical thoughts on essential studies.

In short:
PICOT is a tool that focuses on the ESSENTIAL, on the anatomy of a study
SWOT is a tool that is based on personal critical thoughts focusing on the evaluation of a study

PICOT: a method to breakdown the design of a study into its essential components

Population of interest:

• What criteria were used to include patients in the study?
• What were the exclusion criteria?

Intervention of interest:

• What treatment or management strategy is being evaluated?

Comparison of interest:

• The intervention of interest is COMPARED TO WHAT? – This usually reflects normal clinical practice OR a treatment considered at equipoise
• What unanswered questions (point of ignorance) justified the study ?

Outcome of interest:

• What is the PRIMARY END POINT (RCT) or Main OBJECTIVE (meta-analysis)?
• What was the expected rate of the primary end point or main objective in the comparator arm and the intervention arm?
• What was the smallest benefit that the investigators considered relevant?
• What type of trial was carried out: Superiority or Non-inferiority?

Time frame of interest:

• At what time point is analysis of the final data planned

 

SWOT: a step-wise method to critically appraise the strengths and weakness of a study

• Strengths: Your thoughts on what you consider are the strengths of the study.
• Weakness: Your thoughts on what you consider are the weakness of the study.
• Opportunities: Your thoughts on the opportunities that can be driven by this study
• Threats:  What are the threats or risks that could arise from this study?