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Researchers use inclusion and exclusion criteria to determine characteristics of the subjects or elements in a study. Establishing these criteria for subjects is an important step in designing high-quality research.
In research and quality improvement projects, investigators use inclusion and exclusion criteria to determine the characteristics of the subjects or elements in the study. Establishing inclusion and exclusion criteria for subjects is an important step in designing high-quality research (Patino & Ferreira, 2018). Decisions about these criteria often are based on a delicate balance between ensuring a strong study and being able to generalize to larger populations. Researchers need to be explicit about their inclusion and exclusion criteria. To determine the usefulness of the study, readers also need to examine the criteria carefully to ensure subjects are similar to the patients in their practice or institution. In this column, issues related to these criteria are discussed.
Inclusion Criteria
Inclusion criteria outline the characteristics of subjects included in the study (Polit & Beck, 2018). Investigators must consider the target population to generalize their findings (Garg, 2016). Typical inclusion criteria might be demographic, geographic, occupational group, or clinical diagnosis (Patino & Ferreira, 2018). For example, characteristics might include new U.S. nursing graduates...