Question types

Foreground questions versus background questions

Determining whether you are asking a background or a foreground question will help you decide which resources to use and how to search. 

Background questions are general questions about a condition, a treatment or a test.  These questions are best answered with already published research - such as textbooks or review papers.

For example:  What are risk factors for type 2 diabetes?

Foreground questions are focussed and complex questions that might be used to inform a clinical decision, or service redesign.

For example: Is diabetes education as effective for glycaemic control in adolescent patients when delivered by telehealth as it is in person?

PICO is a useful tool for constructing a clinical foreground intervention question.