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Martínez-Salazar J, Toledano-Toledano F. Comparative Analysis of Three Predictive Models of Performance Indicators with Results-Based Management: Cancer Data Statistics in a National Institute of Health. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4649. [PMID: 37760617 PMCID: PMC10526912 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Predictive models play a crucial role in RBMs to analyze performance indicator results to manage unexpected events and make timely decisions to resolve them. Their use in Mexico is deficient, and monitoring and evaluation are among the weakest pillars of the model. In response to these needs, the aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of three predictive models to analyze 10 medical performance indicators and cancer data related to children with cancer. To accomplish these purposes, a comparative and retrospective study with nonprobabilistic convenience sampling was conducted. The predictive models were exponential smoothing, autoregressive integrated moving average, and linear regression. The lowest mean absolute error was used to identify the best model. Linear regression performed best regarding nine of the ten indicators, with seven showing p < 0.05. Three of their assumptions were checked using the Shapiro-Wilk, Cook's distance, and Breusch-Pagan tests. Predictive models with RBM are a valid and relevant instrument for monitoring and evaluating performance indicator results to support forecasting and decision-making based on evidence and must be promoted for use with cancer data statistics. The place numbers obtained by cancer disease inside the main causes of death, morbidity and hospital outpatients in a National Institute of Health were presented as evidence of the importance of implementing performance indicators associated with children with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Martínez-Salazar
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Basada en Evidencias, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Dr. Márquez 162, Doctores, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
| | - Filiberto Toledano-Toledano
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Basada en Evidencias, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Dr. Márquez 162, Doctores, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
- Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria en Salud, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Calzada México-Xochimilco 289, Arenal de Guadalupe, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
- Dirección de Investigación y Diseminación del Conocimiento, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias e Innovación para la Formación de Comunidad Científica, INDEHUS, Periférico Sur 4860, Arenal de Guadalupe, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
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Farmani A, Rahimianbougar M, Mohammadi Y, Faramarzi H, Khodarahimi S, Nahaboo S. Psychological, Structural, Social and Economic Determinants of Suicide Attempt: Risk Assessment and Decision Making Strategies. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2023; 86:1144-1166. [PMID: 33736538 DOI: 10.1177/00302228211003462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this research was to conduct a risk assessment and management of psychological, structural, social and economic determinants (PSSED) in a suicide attempt. The sample consisted of 353 individuals who had a recorded history of suicidal attempt; and 20 professional individuals by purposive sampling method within a descriptive cross-sectional design. Worksheets for RAM and AHP were used for data collection in this study. The rate of suicide attempt was 7.21 per 100,000 population in this study. Analysis showed that depression and mental disorders; personality disorders; family problems; socio-cultural and economic problems; lack of awareness; and low level of education have a high level of risk for suicide attempts. Psychiatric and psychological services; awareness and knowledge of life skills; medical services to dysfunctional families; development of community-based planning for PSSED of suicide; and employment and entrepreneurship services may lower suicide attempt risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Farmani
- Social Emergency Center, Welfare General Bureau of Fars Province, Shiraz, Iran
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Mohr W, Rädke A, Afi A, Weber N, Platen M, Mühlichen F, Scharf A, Michalowsky B, Hoffmann W. Do They Align? Congruence Between Patient Preferences of People Living with Cognitive Impairments and Physicians' Judgements for Person-Centered Care: An Analytic Hierarchy Process Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 91:727-741. [PMID: 36502324 PMCID: PMC9912726 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Person-centered care (PCC) requires knowledge about patient preferences. Among people living with cognitive impairments (PlwCI), evidence on quantitative, choice-based preferences, which allow to quantify, weigh, and rank care elements, is limited. Furthermore, data on the congruence of patient preferences with physicians' judgements for PCC are missing. Such information is expected to support the implementation of PCC; state-of-the-art medical care aligned with patients' preferences. OBJECTIVE To elicit patient preferences and physicians' judgements for PCC and their congruence. METHODS Data from the mixed-methods PreDemCare study, including a cross-sectional, paper-and-pencil, interviewer-assisted analytic hierarchy process (AHP) survey conducted with n = 50 community-dwelling PlwCI and n = 25 physicians. Individual AHP weights (preferences/judgements) were calculated with the principal eigenvector method and aggregated per group by aggregation of individual priorities mode. Individual consistency ratios (CRs) were calculated and aggregated per group. Group differences in preferences/judgements were investigated descriptively by means and standard deviations (SDs) of AHP weights, resulting ranks, and boxplots. Additionally, differences between groups were investigated with independent paired t-test/Mann Whitney U-test. Sensitivity of AHP results was tested by inclusion/exclusion of inconsistent respondents, with an accepted threshold at CR≤0.3 for patients, and CR≤0.2 for physicians, due to better cognitive fitness of the latter group. RESULTS Patient preferences and physicians' judgements did not differ significantly, except for the criterion Memory Exercises (AHP weights (mean (SD)): 0.135 (0.066) versus 0.099 (0.068), p = 0.01). We did not see rank-reversals of criteria after exclusion of inconsistent participants. Mean CR for patients at the criteria level was 0.261, and 0.181 for physicians. CONCLUSION Physicians' judgements in our setting aligned well with patients' preferences. Our findings may be used to guide the implementation of preference-based PCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Mohr
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anika Rädke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - Adel Afi
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - Niklas Weber
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - Moritz Platen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - Franka Mühlichen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - Annelie Scharf
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - Bernhard Michalowsky
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hoffmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
- Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
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Mohr W, Rädke A, Afi A, Mühlichen F, Platen M, Scharf A, Michalowsky B, Hoffmann W. Development of a Quantitative Preference Instrument for Person-Centered Dementia Care-Stage 2: Insights from a Formative Qualitative Study to Design and Pretest a Dementia-Friendly Analytic Hierarchy Process Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:8554. [PMID: 35886406 PMCID: PMC9321359 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Person-centered care (PCC) requires knowledge about patient preferences. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is one approach to quantify, weigh and rank patient preferences suitable for People living with Dementia (PlwD), due to simple pairwise comparisons of individual criteria from a complex decision problem. The objective of the present study was to design and pretest a dementia-friendly AHP survey. Methods: Two expert panels consisting of n = 4 Dementia Care Managers and n = 4 physicians to ensure content-validity, and "thinking-aloud" interviews with n = 11 PlwD and n = 3 family caregivers to ensure the face validity of the AHP survey. Following a semi-structured interview guide, PlwD were asked to assess appropriateness and comprehensibility. Data, field notes and partial interview transcripts were analyzed with a constant comparative approach, and feedback was incorporated continuously until PlwD had no further comments or struggles with survey completion. Consistency ratios (CRs) were calculated with Microsoft® Excel and ExpertChoice Comparion®. Results: Three main categories with sub-categories emerged: (1) Content: clear task introduction, (sub)criteria description, criteria homogeneity, (sub)criteria appropriateness, retest questions and sociodemography for heterogeneity; (2) Format: survey structure, pairwise comparison sequence, survey length, graphical design (incl. AHP scale), survey procedure explanation, survey assistance and response perspective; and (3) Layout: easy wording, short sentences and visual aids. Individual CRs ranged from 0.08 to 0.859, and the consolidated CR was 0.37 (0.038). Conclusions: Our formative qualitative study provides initial data for the design of a dementia-friendly AHP survey. Consideration of our findings may contribute to face and content validity in future quantitative preference research in dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Mohr
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (A.S.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Anika Rädke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (A.S.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Adel Afi
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (A.S.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Franka Mühlichen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (A.S.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Moritz Platen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (A.S.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Annelie Scharf
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (A.S.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Bernhard Michalowsky
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (A.S.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Wolfgang Hoffmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (A.S.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
- Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany
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Mohr W, Rädke A, Michalowsky B, Hoffmann W. Elicitation of quantitative, choice-based preferences for Person-Centered Care among People living with Dementia in comparison to physicians' judgements in Germany: study protocol for the mixed-methods PreDemCare-study. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:567. [PMID: 35804302 PMCID: PMC9264751 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03238-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Person-Centered-Care (PCC) requires knowledge about patient preferences. Among People-living-with-Dementia (PlwD) data on quantitative, choice-based preferences, which would allow to quantify, weigh and rank patient-relevant elements of dementia-care, and identify most/least preferred choices, are limited. The Analytic-Hierarchy-Process (AHP) may be one approach to elicit quantitative, choice-based preferences with PlwD, due to simple pairwise comparisons of individual criteria from a complex decision-problem, e.g. health care decisions. Furthermore, data on congruence of patient preferences with physicians' judgements for PCC are missing. If patient preferences and physicians' judgements differ, provision of PCC becomes unlikely. An understanding of patient preferences compared to physician's judgements will support the implementation of truly PCC, i.e. state of the art dementia-care aligned with patient preferences. METHODS This mixed-methods-study will be based on the results from a previous systematic review and conducted in three phases: (I) literature-based key intervention-categories of PCC will be investigated during qualitative interviews with Dementia-Care-Managers (DCMs) and PlwD to identify actually patient-relevant (sub) criteria of PCC; (II) based on findings from phase I, an AHP-survey will be designed and pre-tested for face- and content-validity, and consistency during face-to-face "thinking-aloud"-interviews with PlwD and two expert panels (DCMs and physicians); (III) the developed survey will elicit patient preferences and physicians' judgements for PCC. To assess individual importance weights for (sub) criteria in both groups, the Principal-Eigenvector-Method will be applied. Weights will be aggregated per group by Aggregation-of-Individual-Priorities-mode. Descriptive and interferential statistical analyses will be conducted to assess congruence of importance-weights between groups. Subgroup-analyses shall investigate participant-heterogeneities, sensitivity of AHP-results shall be tested by inclusion/exclusion of inconsistent respondents. DISCUSSION Little research is published on quantitative, choice-based preferences in dementia care. We expect that (1) PlwD have preferences and can express these, (2) that the AHP is a suitable technique to elicit quantitative, choice-based preferences among PlwD, and (3) to identify a divergence between patient preferences and physicians' judgements for PCC. With the help of the AHP-technique, which supports systematic decision-making including multiple criteria, it may be possible to involve PlwD in future care decisions (patient participation) and ensure implementation of truly Person-Centered-Dementia-Care. TRIAL REGISTRATION Approval of the study was granted by the Ethics Committee at the University Medicine Greifswald the 09Apr2021 (Reg.-Nr.: BB 018-21, BB 018-21a, BB 018-21b).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Mohr
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock / Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17487, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Anika Rädke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock / Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Bernhard Michalowsky
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock / Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hoffmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock / Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald (UMG), Greifswald, Germany
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Mohr W, Rädke A, Afi A, Mühlichen F, Platen M, Michalowsky B, Hoffmann W. Development of a Quantitative Instrument to Elicit Patient Preferences for Person-Centered Dementia Care Stage 1: A Formative Qualitative Study to Identify Patient Relevant Criteria for Experimental Design of an Analytic Hierarchy Process. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:7629. [PMID: 35805286 PMCID: PMC9266267 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Background: Person-centered care (PCC) requires knowledge about patient preferences. This formative qualitative study aimed to identify (sub)criteria of PCC for the design of a quantitative, choice-based instrument to elicit patient preferences for person-centered dementia care. Method: Interviews were conducted with n = 2 dementia care managers, n = 10 People living with Dementia (PlwD), and n = 3 caregivers (CGs), which followed a semi-structured interview guide including a card game with PCC criteria identified from the literature. Criteria cards were shown to explore the PlwD's conception. PlwD were asked to rank the cards to identify patient-relevant criteria of PCC. Audios were verbatim-transcribed and analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Card game results were coded on a 10-point-scale, and sums and means for criteria were calculated. Results: Six criteria with two sub-criteria emerged from the analysis; social relationships (indirect contact, direct contact), cognitive training (passive, active), organization of care (decentralized structures and no shared decision making, centralized structures and shared decision making), assistance with daily activities (professional, family member), characteristics of care professionals (empathy, education and work experience) and physical activities (alone, group). Dementia-sensitive wording and balance between comprehensibility vs. completeness of the (sub)criteria emerged as additional themes. Conclusions: Our formative study provides initial data about patient-relevant criteria of PCC to design a quantitative patient preference instrument. Future research may want to consider the balance between (sub)criteria comprehensibility vs. completeness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Mohr
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Anika Rädke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Adel Afi
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Franka Mühlichen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Moritz Platen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Bernhard Michalowsky
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
| | - Wolfgang Hoffmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany; (A.R.); (A.A.); (F.M.); (M.P.); (B.M.); (W.H.)
- Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstrasse 1-2, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany
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A Method for Evaluating and Selecting Suitable Hardware for Deployment of Embedded System on UAVs. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20164420. [PMID: 32784776 PMCID: PMC7472300 DOI: 10.3390/s20164420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The use of UAVs for remote sensing is increasing. In this paper, we demonstrate a method for evaluating and selecting suitable hardware to be used for deployment of algorithms for UAV-based remote sensing under considerations of Size, Weight, Power, and Computational constraints. These constraints hinder the deployment of rapidly evolving computer vision and robotics algorithms on UAVs, because they require intricate knowledge about the system and architecture to allow for effective implementation. We propose integrating computational monitoring techniques—profiling—with an industry standard specifying software quality—ISO 25000—and fusing both in a decision-making model—the analytic hierarchy process—to provide an informed decision basis for deploying embedded systems in the context of UAV-based remote sensing. One software package is combined in three software–hardware alternatives, which are profiled in hardware-in-the-loop simulations. Three objectives are used as inputs for the decision-making process. A Monte Carlo simulation provides insights into which decision-making parameters lead to which preferred alternative. Results indicate that local weights significantly influence the preference of an alternative. The approach enables relating complex parameters, leading to informed decisions about which hardware is deemed suitable for deployment in which case.
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Babac A, Litzkendorf S, Schmidt K, Pauer F, Damm K, Frank M, Graf von der Schulenburg JM. Shaping an Effective Health Information Website on Rare Diseases Using a Group Decision-Making Tool: Inclusion of the Perspectives of Patients, Their Family Members, and Physicians. Interact J Med Res 2017; 6:e23. [PMID: 29158209 PMCID: PMC5715203 DOI: 10.2196/ijmr.7352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite diverging definitions on rare conditions, people suffering from rare diseases share similar difficulties. A lack of experience by health professionals, a long wait from first symptoms to diagnosis, scarce medical and scientific knowledge, and unsatisfactory treatment options all trigger the search for health information by patients, family members, and physicians. Examining and systematically integrating stakeholder needs can help design information platforms that effectively support this search. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to innovate on the group decision-making process involving patients, family members, and physicians for the establishment of a national rare disease Internet platform. We determined differences in the relevance of health information-especially examining quantifiable preference weights-between these subgroups and elucidated the structure and distribution of these differences in people suffering from rare diseases, their family members, and physicians, thus providing information crucial to their collaboration. METHODS The included items were identified using a systematic Internet research and verified through a qualitative interview study. The identified major information needs included medical issues, research, social help offers, and current events. These categories further comprised sublevels of diagnosis, therapy, general disease pattern, current studies, study results, registers, psychosocial counseling, self-help, and sociolegal advice. The analytic hierarchy process was selected as the group decision-making tool. A sensitivity analysis was used to determine the stability and distribution of results. t tests were utilized to examine the results' significance. RESULTS A total of 176 questionnaires were collected; we excluded some questionnaires in line with our chosen consistency level of 0.2. Ultimately, 120 patients, 24 family members, and 32 physicians participated in the study (48 men and 128 women, mean age=48 years, age range=17-87 years). Rankings and preference weights were highly heterogeneous. Global ranking positions of patients, family members, and physicians are shown in parentheses, as follows: medical issues (3/4, 4, 4), research (3/4, 2/3, 3), social help offers (1, 2/3, 2), and current events (2, 1, 1); diagnosis (6, 8, 9), therapy (5, 9, 7), general disease pattern (9, 4/5/6, 6), current studies (7, 4/5/6, 3), study results (8, 7, 8), registers (4, 1, 5), psychosocial counseling (1, 2, 4), self-help (3, 3, 2), and sociolegal advice (2, 4/5/6, 1). Differences were verified for patients for 5 information categories (P=.03), physicians for 6 information categories (P=.03), and family members for 4 information categories (P=.04). CONCLUSIONS Our results offer a clear-cut information structure that can transparently translate group decisions into practice. Furthermore, we found different preference structures for rare disease information among patients, family members, and physicians. Some websites already address differences in comprehension between those subgroups. Similar to pharmaceutical companies, health information providers on rare diseases should also acknowledge different information needs to improve the accessibility of information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Babac
- Center for Health Economic Research Hannover, University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Svenja Litzkendorf
- Center for Health Economic Research Hannover, University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katharina Schmidt
- Center for Health Economic Research Hannover, University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Frédéric Pauer
- Center for Quality and Management in Health Care, Medical Association of Lower Saxony, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kathrin Damm
- Center for Health Economic Research Hannover, University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Frank
- Center for Quality and Management in Health Care, Medical Association of Lower Saxony, Hannover, Germany
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Schmidt K, Babac A, Pauer F, Damm K, von der Schulenburg JM. Measuring patients' priorities using the Analytic Hierarchy Process in comparison with Best-Worst-Scaling and rating cards: methodological aspects and ranking tasks. HEALTH ECONOMICS REVIEW 2016; 6:50. [PMID: 27844450 PMCID: PMC5108732 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-016-0130-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying patient priorities and preference measurements have gained importance as patients claim a more active role in health care decision making. Due to the variety of existing methods, it is challenging to define an appropriate method for each decision problem. This study demonstrates the impact of the non-standardized Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method on priorities, and compares it with Best-Worst-Scaling (BWS) and ranking card methods. METHODS We investigated AHP results for different Consistency Ratio (CR) thresholds, aggregation methods, and sensitivity analyses. We also compared criteria rankings of AHP with BWS and ranking cards results by Kendall's tau b. RESULTS The sample for our decision analysis consisted of 39 patients with rare diseases and mean age of 53.82 years. The mean weights of the two groups of CR ≤ 0.1 and CR ≤ 0.2 did not differ significantly. For the aggregation by individual priority (AIP) method, the CR was higher than for aggregation by individual judgment (AIJ). In contrast, the weights of AIJ were similar compared to AIP, but some criteria's rankings differed. Weights aggregated by geometric mean, median, and mean showed deviating results and rank reversals. Sensitivity analyses showed instable rankings. Moderate to high correlations between the rankings resulting from AHP and BWS. LIMITATIONS Limitations were the small sample size and the heterogeneity of the patients with different rare diseases. CONCLUSION In the AHP method, the number of included patients is associated with the threshold of the CR and choice of the aggregation method, whereas both directions of influence could be demonstrated. Therefore, it is important to implement standards for the AHP method. The choice of method should depend on the trade-off between the burden for participants and possibilities for analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schmidt
- Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz University of Hannover, Otto-Brenner-Str. 1, D-30159 Hanover, Germany
| | - Ana Babac
- Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz University of Hannover, Otto-Brenner-Str. 1, D-30159 Hanover, Germany
| | - Frédéric Pauer
- Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz University of Hannover, Otto-Brenner-Str. 1, D-30159 Hanover, Germany
| | - Kathrin Damm
- Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz University of Hannover, Otto-Brenner-Str. 1, D-30159 Hanover, Germany
| | - J-Matthias von der Schulenburg
- Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz University of Hannover, Otto-Brenner-Str. 1, D-30159 Hanover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hanover, Germany
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Mühlbacher AC, Kaczynski A. Making Good Decisions in Healthcare with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis: The Use, Current Research and Future Development of MCDA. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2016; 14:29-40. [PMID: 26519081 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-015-0203-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Healthcare decision making is usually characterized by a low degree of transparency. The demand for transparent decision processes can be fulfilled only when assessment, appraisal and decisions about health technologies are performed under a systematic construct of benefit assessment. The benefit of an intervention is often multidimensional and, thus, must be represented by several decision criteria. Complex decision problems require an assessment and appraisal of various criteria; therefore, a decision process that systematically identifies the best available alternative and enables an optimal and transparent decision is needed. For that reason, decision criteria must be weighted and goal achievement must be scored for all alternatives. Methods of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) are available to analyse and appraise multiple clinical endpoints and structure complex decision problems in healthcare decision making. By means of MCDA, value judgments, priorities and preferences of patients, insurees and experts can be integrated systematically and transparently into the decision-making process. This article describes the MCDA framework and identifies potential areas where MCDA can be of use (e.g. approval, guidelines and reimbursement/pricing of health technologies). A literature search was performed to identify current research in healthcare. The results showed that healthcare decision making is addressing the problem of multiple decision criteria and is focusing on the future development and use of techniques to weight and score different decision criteria. This article emphasizes the use and future benefit of MCDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel C Mühlbacher
- IGM Institut Gesundheitsökonomie und Medizinmanagement, Hochschule Neubrandenburg, Brodaer Straße 2, 17033, Neubrandenburg, Germany.
- Gesellschaft für empirische Beratung GmbH (GEB), Freiburg, Germany.
- Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Anika Kaczynski
- IGM Institut Gesundheitsökonomie und Medizinmanagement, Hochschule Neubrandenburg, Brodaer Straße 2, 17033, Neubrandenburg, Germany
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Schmidt K, Aumann I, Hollander I, Damm K, von der Schulenburg JMG. Applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process in healthcare research: A systematic literature review and evaluation of reporting. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2015; 15:112. [PMID: 26703458 PMCID: PMC4690361 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-015-0234-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), developed by Saaty in the late 1970s, is one of the methods for multi-criteria decision making. The AHP disaggregates a complex decision problem into different hierarchical levels. The weight for each criterion and alternative are judged in pairwise comparisons and priorities are calculated by the Eigenvector method. The slowly increasing application of the AHP was the motivation for this study to explore the current state of its methodology in the healthcare context. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted by searching the Pubmed and Web of Science databases for articles with the following keywords in their titles or abstracts: “Analytic Hierarchy Process,” “Analytical Hierarchy Process,” “multi-criteria decision analysis,” “multiple criteria decision,” “stated preference,” and “pairwise comparison.” In addition, we developed reporting criteria to indicate whether the authors reported important aspects and evaluated the resulting studies’ reporting. Results The systematic review resulted in 121 articles. The number of studies applying AHP has increased since 2005. Most studies were from Asia (almost 30 %), followed by the US (25.6 %). On average, the studies used 19.64 criteria throughout their hierarchical levels. Furthermore, we restricted a detailed analysis to those articles published within the last 5 years (n = 69). The mean of participants in these studies were 109, whereas we identified major differences in how the surveys were conducted. The evaluation of reporting showed that the mean of reported elements was about 6.75 out of 10. Thus, 12 out of 69 studies reported less than half of the criteria. Conclusion The AHP has been applied inconsistently in healthcare research. A minority of studies described all the relevant aspects. Thus, the statements in this review may be biased, as they are restricted to the information available in the papers. Hence, further research is required to discover who should be interviewed and how, how inconsistent answers should be dealt with, and how the outcome and stability of the results should be presented. In addition, we need new insights to determine which target group can best handle the challenges of the AHP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schmidt
- Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz University of Hanover, Otto-Brenner-Str. 1, 30159, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Ines Aumann
- Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz University of Hanover, Otto-Brenner-Str. 1, 30159, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Ines Hollander
- Institute for Risk and Insurance, Leibniz University of Hanover, Otto-Brenner-Str. 1, 30159, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Kathrin Damm
- Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz University of Hanover, Otto-Brenner-Str. 1, 30159, Hannover, Germany.
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