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Medical decision making: Selection of the appropriate surgical mode for undescended testicle treatment
Author(s) -
Hancerliogullari Koksalmis Gulsah,
Hancerliogullari Kadir Oymen,
Cetinguc Basak,
Durucu Murat,
Calisir Fethi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of multi‐criteria decision analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.462
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1099-1360
pISSN - 1057-9214
DOI - 10.1002/mcda.1679
Subject(s) - analytic hierarchy process , topsis , laparoscopy , medicine , surgery , general surgery , operations research , engineering
Abstract This study is designed to provide paediatric surgeons' perspectives on the relative importance of the criteria for choosing a surgical mode for undescended testicle treatment between open surgery (orchiopexy) or laparoscopic surgery and determine the suitable surgical mode by using the multicriteria decision‐making method. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), and Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) methods are utilized. A decision hierarchy is set with a goal, criteria, and alternatives. Our model is developed on the basis of four main criteria (time‐related, patient‐related, recovery‐related, and complication‐related factors) and 11 subcriteria (operation duration, length of stay in hospital, preoperative preparation time, recovery period after surgery, age of patient, weight of patient, aesthetic appearance, quality of life satisfaction, recurrence, possibility of infection, and vital function) as well as two alternatives, laparoscopy and open surgery. An online questionnaire was sent to the paediatric surgeons; responses from the 31 experts (i.e., paediatric surgeons) indicate that the most important criteria are found to be the time‐related factors, especially preoperative preparation time. On the other hand, the least important criteria are found to be complication‐related factors. Moreover, laparoscopy is chosen as the most suitable method for the undescended testicle using the AHP, TOPSIS, and VIKOR methods. This study helps paediatric surgeons' decision making by elucidating their priority criteria and representing their decision‐making process in terms of quantity with the help of AHP, TOPSIS, and VIKOR methodologies.