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Game theory to analyse management options in gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease
Author(s) -
Sonnenberg A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2000.00855.x
Subject(s) - solver , reflux , medicine , gastro , disease , decision tree , row , linear programming , computer science , mathematics , algorithm , mathematical optimization , data mining , database
This study aims to demonstrate the applicability of linear programming to threshold analysis, using, as an example, patients with new onset of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The choice amongst competing management options is modelled as a decision tree, using threshold analysis, as well as an m × n matrix on an Excel spreadsheet. The different options of medical management correspond to the m rows, whilst the different disease states correspond to the n columns of the matrix. Each number at the intersection of a row and a column represents the outcome associated with that particular combination of management and disease state. The threshold values are calculated by the built‐in functions for linear programming of Excel using its Solver tool. Varying the cost estimates in the sensitivity analysis translates into solving a set of different matrices. Threshold analysis provides a formalism to phrase problems of medical decision analysis in a concise fashion.