1. Study Eligibility Criteria Interactive Quiz
Prepared for:
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Training Modules for Systematic Reviews Methods Guide
Study Eligibility Criteria Interactive Quiz
This interactive quiz augments the module on study eligibility criteria. It was prepared by Melissa L. McPheeters, Ph.D., M.P.H., a member of the Vanderbilt University Evidence-based Practice Center.
The module is currently not included in Version 1.0 of the Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews (available at: ehc/products/60/294/2009_0805_principles1.pdf).

2. PICOTS Components
When selecting study eligibility study criteria, it is important to keep the PICOTS components in mind. What does PICOTS stand for?
Personal, Interest, Comparison, Observation, Time, and Situation
Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Timing, and Setting
Public, Individual, Community, Organization, Time, and Society
None of the above
PICOTS Components
When selecting study eligibility criteria, it is important to keep the PICOTS components in mind. What does PICOTS stand for?
Incorrect. PICOTS includes the important global ideas applicable to all phases of the review.
Correct. PICOTS is an acronym that stands for: population (condition, disease severity and stage, comorbidities, patient demographics); intervention (dosage, frequency, and method of administration); comparators (placebo, usual care, or active control); outcomes (health outcomes, morbidity, mortality, and quality of life); timing (duration of followup); and setting (primary, specialty, inpatient, and cointerventions).

3. Study Eligibility Criteria
N > 30 could be an example of study eligibility criteria.
True
False
Study Eligibility Criteria
N > 30 could be an example of study selection criteria.
Correct. Other examples could include adult, community-dwelling females; study of a screening tool for depression; United States only; hospital-based studies only; N > 200; or randomized controlled trials.
Incorrect. Selection criteria are the rules that dictate whether a study will be included or excluded.

4. When To Determine Study Eligibility Criteria
Study eligibility criteria should be determined after the abstract review process is underway.
True
False
When To Determine Study Eligibility Criteria
Study eligibility criteria should be determined after the abstract review process is underway.
Incorrect. Determining study eligibility criteria after reviewing literature may introduce bias and skew the results.
Correct. To reduce bias, study eligibility criteria should be determined before any literature investigation. When determining study eligibility criteria, it is important to review study goals, assess the analytic framework and key questions, and tie criteria to the PICOTS (population, intervention, comparator, outcome, timing, and setting) elements.

5. Well-Constructed Study Eligibility Criteria
Using well-constructed study eligibility criteria can help avoid which of the following?
Too much literature to feasibly review or disparate literature that cannot be compared
Too little literature
Inability to answer the intended question
Bias introduced through inclusion of inappropriate study designs or populations
All of the above
Well-Constructed Selection Criteria
Using well-constructed study eligibility criteria can help avoid which of the following?
Correct, but there is a better answer. Options B, C, and D can also be avoided by using well-constructed study eligibility criteria.
Correct, but there is a better answer. Options A, C, and D can also be avoided by using well-constructed study eligibility criteria.
Correct, but there is a better answer. Options A, B, and D can also be avoided by using well-constructed study eligibility criteria.
Correct, but there is a better answer. Options A, B, and C can also be avoided by using well-constructed study eligibility criteria.
Correct. Study eligibility criteria are powerful tools for broadening or narrowing the scope of a review. When properly constructed and applied, study eligibility will reduce bias and enhance the applicability of the review.

6. Summary
To reduce bias in a comparative effectiveness review, choose the study eligibility criteria before performing the literature review.
Assess study goals.
Appraise analytic framework and key questions.
Tie the criteria to PICOTS (population, intervention, comparator, outcome, timing, and setting).
Study eligibility criteria can broaden or narrow the scope of the review.
When properly applied, study eligibility criteria will enhance applicability of the review.
Summary

7. Author
This quiz was prepared by Melissa L. McPheeters, Ph.D., M.P.H., a member of the Vanderbilt University Evidence-based Practice Center.
The information in this module is currently not included in Version 1.0 of the Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews (available at: ahrq.gov/ehc/products/60/294/2009_0805_principles1.pdf).
Author
This interactive quiz augments the module on study eligibility criteria. It was prepared by Melissa L. McPheeters, Ph.D., M.P.H., a member of the Vanderbilt University Evidence-based Practice Center. The module is currently not included in Version 1.0 of the Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews (available at: ehc/products/60/294/2009_0805_principles1.pdf).