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[Unilateral inguinal hernia in infants: costs, risks and benefits of herniography? Methodology]
A S Poisson-Salomon1, O Lucidarme, I Durand-Zaleski
1Service de l'évaluation, DPIM, Paris.
Aim:
To assess the validity and the interest to health of systematic herniography in cases of unilateral inguinal hernia in children under two years of age.
Method:
Decision theory was used to assess the effect of herniography on individual health by estimating gonadic benefit and establishing a benefit-risk ratio, and on collective health by the use of cost-effectiveness analysis.
Results:
a decision tree and algorithms were developed.
Discussion:
Decision analysis is used in complex medical decision making, clarifying choices and subdividing a problem into several more manageable sub-problems. The threshold approach pinpoints factors requiring more information.