Development of modelling method selection tool for health services management: from problem structuring methods to...

Area of Science:

• Health services research
• Operations research
• Health policy analysis

Background:

• Modelling and simulation (M&S) are increasingly recognized for their potential in designing healthcare policies, strategies, and operations.
• Current utilization of M&S in healthcare is limited, with underdeveloped guidance on method selection and application.
• Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the applicability of specific M&S approaches to health services management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mechanism for decision-makers to compare and select appropriate M&S methods for health services planning and management.
• To facilitate better selection and utilization of M&S methods or commissioning of relevant M&S work.
• To address the challenge of choosing the most suitable M&S method for specific healthcare management problems.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review, expert team knowledge, and user input were used to develop a comparison and selection tool.
• Twenty-eight distinct M&S methods were identified and characterized.
• Methods were assessed based on application areas, project life cycle stages, output types, insight levels, and required resources (time, money, knowledge, data).

Main Results:

• A matrix-based characterization of M&S methods enables quick comparison and selection.
• The study identified significant knowledge gaps in applying M&S to health services management, exacerbated by scarce resources like time, money, and skilled personnel.
• The tool provides insights into expected outcomes and resource requirements for each method.

Conclusions:

• A novel tool has been developed to aid in selecting M&S methods for healthcare decision-making processes.
• The tool clarifies which method is most appropriate for specific health services management problems, expected outcomes, and necessary inputs.
• This contributes valuable resources to the limited existing literature on M&S method comparison and selection in healthcare.