Article Abstract:
Medical professionals must evaluate the appropriateness of a clinical decision analysis before accepting the results. A clinical decision analysis applies specific, quantitative methods to evaluate patient care decisions that are clouded by uncertainty. A valid decision analysis recommends strategies that are most likely to benefit patients. The decision analysis model must fit the clinical scenario. The important alternative actions and the relevant patient outcomes must be included in the analysis. The information used in a decision analysis must be gathered from a comprehensive search of the medical literature and converted into numeric estimates of the likelihood of events. The various patient outcomes of a decision must be quantitatively measured. Sensitivity analyses are needed to ensure that that the results of a decision analysis are not affected by uncertainties in the likelihood of events or patient outcomes.
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Article Abstract:
How to make a clinical decision for treating individual patients based on information from medical literature is discussed. The decision involves the careful weighing of a few variables and estimates of benefits. A decision tree graphically maps out the steps in the decision-making process. It starts with the decision to be evaluated, and includes strategies and clinical outcomes. The strength of the evidence is judged along with how closely it applies to the particular patient. Utility ratings should be determined, which involves how much the patient values the remainder of his life span.
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Article Abstract:
Various methods for determining the validity of economic analyses of medical practice are discussed. These analyses are done to determine whether the benefits of a particular treatment are worth the cost. This is a new technique and there is much debate on how best to perform these analyses. Specific considerations for determining validity include whether a broad viewpoint was used, relevant treatments were compared, clinical effectiveness was established and costs were measured accurately.
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