Working through weekly PICO assignments changed how I approach clinical questions during rotations. Before, I often relied on what I was taught or what I saw in practice without always questioning it. Using the PICO framework pushed me to ask more intentional questions, like why a specific intervention is chosen and whether there is actual evidence supporting it. One of the most valuable skills I developed was learning how to break down a clinical scenario into a focused, answerable question. Organizing cases into population, intervention, comparison, and outcome made my thinking more structured and made it easier to find relevant, high-quality evidence. Instead of searching broadly, I was able to focus on studies that directly answered my question and emphasized clinically meaningful outcomes.

I also noticed that evidence does not always perfectly align with real-world practice. This helped me think more critically about patient-specific factors and how to apply evidence appropriately rather than blindly following it. In several cases, I was able to connect what I researched to patients I saw in clinic, which made the learning more practical and relevant. Overall, these assignments strengthened my ability to critically evaluate medical literature and apply it to patient care. This is a skill I will continue to build as a future PA, especially as medicine continues to evolve.