How do I write a good criteria description for a signal?
Overview
The criteria description is the most important part of your configuration. Small changes to wording can significantly change the output. Here’s how to write one that works.
Step 1: Start simple
You have up to 500 characters to tell Que what to look for in the fields you selected. Keep it simple first. If the output is confusing, simplify your prompt before adding complexity.
Step 2: Use examples as a starting point
Here are examples from the field:
| Type | Example criteria description |
| Simple (absence) | “Flag when there are no new dates in Date of Service or Service Notes in the look-back period.” |
| Field relationship | “Risk factor if the answer to ‘School Age Eligible’ does not match ‘Enrolled in School’.” |
| Score over time | “Low score = lower risk, high score = higher risk. Flag when score is increasing over time.” |
Step 3: Name the fields and the rule
Refer to the fields you selected by name, and say plainly what should trigger the flag, for example, “no new dates” or “does not match.”
Step 4: Test and refine
Run a test on a participant you know, then adjust your wording and re-run. See How do I test a signal before I turn it on?
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How do I write a good criteria description for a signal? | What should I put in a criteria description? | How long can a criteria description be?