Background vs Foreground Questions
Background questions ask for general knowledge and do not normally arise from the need to make a clinical decision.
- Background questions usually have two essential components:
- A question root (who, what, when, etc.) with a verb
- A disorder, treatment, test, or other aspect of healthcare
- e.g. What causes obesity? When should children be introduced to sexual education? Who is most susceptible to nursing burnout?
- Background information can be found in:
- reference book entries
- textbooks, chapters, appendices
- drug monographs, guides to diagnostic tests
Foreground questions ask for specific knowledge to inform clinical decisions or actions.
- Foreground questions usually have 3 or 4 essential components, from the PICO format:
- Patient/population characteristics, problem
- Interventions or Exposures
- Comparison
- Outcome
