For many years Jim Dolan has been exploring the use of the
Analytic Hierarchy Process in shared (patient-doctor) decision making regarding various bowel (colorectal) cancer
screening options. He concludes that his studies show that “multi-criteria
methods such as AHP can provide an effective basis for developing successful
shared decision making programmes regarding preventive health and similar
medical interventions. Such programmes have the potential to improve the
quality of clinical decision-making, improve the outcomes of preventive health
services, and strengthen doctor-patient relationships”(2000, p45).
- Avoid Colorectal Cancer
- Avoid Side Effects
- Avoid False Positives
- No screen
-
Faecal occult blood tests annually
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
-
Faecal occult blood tests annually AND Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
-
Double contrast barium enema every 5 years
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
The Annalisa snapshots below compare the results of using Dolan’s
original probability data for a 50 year old average risk patient as the  Ratings
(first 'simple' and then‘idealised’ to make the best option on each attribute equal to 1) and the
results he arrived at after transforming them into ratios and normalising and idealising. In both cases the illustrative weights are those arrived at by the standard
AHP pair-wise comparison matrix method. Small changes in the ranking of
screening options are observable between Annalisa and AHP. Dolan estimates the AHP process takes about
35 minutes for the average patient.  | JG Dolan (2000). "Involving patients in
decisions regarding preventive health interventions using the analytic
hierarchy process." Health Expectations 3: 37-45. |
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