Criteria Based Screening

Criteria-Based Screening is a new workflow in Nested Knowledge that structures your screening process around Inclusion Criteria. Simple Yes/No questions drawn directly from your protocol. This method can be used for fully manual screening or paired with Smart Screener automation for AI-assisted efficiency. This brings the first model to our software that enables immediate screening by AI without any human screening!

Overview #

By default, Screening in Nested Knowledge is Exclusion Reason–based. Criteria-Based Screening offers a more structured approach:

1. Enable Criteria mode in Nest Settings.
2. Define your inclusion criteria as Yes/No questions.
3. Answer these questions for each record (abstract or full-text).
4. Include/exclude based on which or how many criteria are met.
5. Optionally let AI pre-fill answers via Smart Screener.

This method is ideal for protocol-driven reviews where consistency and traceability are important.

Enabling Criteria-Based Screening #

To switch to this workflow:

1. Go to Nest Settings → Screening Method.
2. Change from Exclusion Reason to Criteria.
3. Click Save Changes.

Setting Your Criteria #

After enabling Criteria mode:

1. Click Manage Criteria in the Screening settings.
2. Add each inclusion criterion as a Yes/No question.
3. Ensure questions can be answered from either abstract or full-text data.
4. Base each question directly on your review protocol.

Screening Manually #

When screening manually in Criteria mode:

1. Each record displays your criteria questions in the right panel.
2. Click Yes or No for each.
3. The system will display the current criteria met count and your pre-set inclusion rule (e.g., must meet all criteria).
4. Click Include or Exclude to finalize.

This structured approach makes it easier to justify decisions and maintain reviewer alignment.

Screening with Smart Screener #

Smart Screener brings AI into Criteria-Based Screening:

1. Enable Smart Screener in Nest Settings → Screening.
2. The AI will auto-suggest Yes/No answers for each criterion without prior training.
3. Suggestions appear highlighted in the criteria panel—click to confirm or adjust.
4. Use the AI Confidence score (displayed per criterion) to guide your review.

Bulk Decisions with Thresholding #

If you want to act on AI suggestions in bulk:

1. Open the Thresholding view from the Screening menu.
2. Adjust the confidence slider to your desired threshold.
3. Preview which records will be included/excluded.
4. Apply bulk decisions.