08 - Criteria for the evidence
The criteria for selecting the evidence are clearly described.
User’s Manual Description:
Criteria for including/excluding evidence identified by the search should be provided. These criteria should be explicitly described and reasons for including and excluding evidence should be clearly stated. For example, guideline authors may decide to only include evidence from randomized clinical trials and to exclude articles not written in English.
Where to Look:
Examine the paragraphs/chapters describing the guideline development process. In some cases, the inclusion or exclusion criteria for selecting the evidence are described in separate documents or in an Appendix to the guideline. Examples of commonly labeled sections or chapters in a guideline where this information can be found include: methods, literature search, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and appendices.
How to Rate:
Item content includes the following CRITERIA:
- description of the inclusion criteria, including
- target population (patient, public, etc.) characteristics
- study design
- comparisons (if relevant)
- outcomes
- language (if relevant)
- context (if relevant)
- description of the exclusion criteria (if relevant; e.g., French only listed in the inclusion criteria statement could logically preclude non-French listed in the exclusion criteria statement)
Additional CONSIDERATIONS:
- Is the item well written? Are the descriptions clear and concise?
- Is the item content easy to find in the guideline?
- Is there a rationale given for the chosen inclusion/exclusion criteria?
- Do inclusion/exclusion criteria align with the health question(s)?
- Are there reasons to believe that relevant literature may not have been considered?
