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Combined discrete-event simulation and ant colony optimisation approach for selecting optimal screening policies for diabetic retinopathy

Combined discrete-event simulation and ant colony optimisation approach for selecting optimal screening policies for diabetic retinopathy
Combined discrete-event simulation and ant colony optimisation approach for selecting optimal screening policies for diabetic retinopathy
In this paper we present the first application to a healthcare problem of discrete-event simulation (DES) embedded in an ant colony optimisation (ACO) model. We are concerned with choosing optimal screening policies for retinopathy, a sight-threatening complication of diabetes. The early signs of retinopathy can be detected by screening before the patient is aware of symptoms, and blindness prevented by laser treatment. In this paper we describe the methodology used to combine the purpose-written DES model with the ACO algorithm. We simulate the effects of different screening strategies on a population of diabetic patients, and compare them in terms of two objective functions: Min C/E, cost-effectiveness (minimum incremental cost per year of sight saved, compared with a no-screening baseline) and Max E, maximum effectiveness (years of sight saved). We describe how ACO is used to optimise these two objectives, and discuss the issues involved in optimising stochastic variables. We present results for a range of different assumptions and scenarios about the format of screening programmes, using realistic data, and make policy recommendations on the basis of our findings.
1619-697X
59-83
Brailsford, S.C.
634585ff-c828-46ca-b33d-7ac017dda04f
Gutjahr, W. J.
ee88c913-6d7b-4cca-a013-63a3424a737e
Rauner, M. S.
f65a8537-4a45-46ac-8d9a-35f3f09459f8
Zeppelzauer, W.
25282831-6876-46ff-849a-b256fd7d3dc1
Brailsford, S.C.
634585ff-c828-46ca-b33d-7ac017dda04f
Gutjahr, W. J.
ee88c913-6d7b-4cca-a013-63a3424a737e
Rauner, M. S.
f65a8537-4a45-46ac-8d9a-35f3f09459f8
Zeppelzauer, W.
25282831-6876-46ff-849a-b256fd7d3dc1

Brailsford, S.C., Gutjahr, W. J., Rauner, M. S. and Zeppelzauer, W. (2007) Combined discrete-event simulation and ant colony optimisation approach for selecting optimal screening policies for diabetic retinopathy. Computational Management Science, 4, 59-83. (doi:10.1007/s10287-006-0008-x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

In this paper we present the first application to a healthcare problem of discrete-event simulation (DES) embedded in an ant colony optimisation (ACO) model. We are concerned with choosing optimal screening policies for retinopathy, a sight-threatening complication of diabetes. The early signs of retinopathy can be detected by screening before the patient is aware of symptoms, and blindness prevented by laser treatment. In this paper we describe the methodology used to combine the purpose-written DES model with the ACO algorithm. We simulate the effects of different screening strategies on a population of diabetic patients, and compare them in terms of two objective functions: Min C/E, cost-effectiveness (minimum incremental cost per year of sight saved, compared with a no-screening baseline) and Max E, maximum effectiveness (years of sight saved). We describe how ACO is used to optimise these two objectives, and discuss the issues involved in optimising stochastic variables. We present results for a range of different assumptions and scenarios about the format of screening programmes, using realistic data, and make policy recommendations on the basis of our findings.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 15 August 2006
Published date: 1 January 2007

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 35750
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/35750
ISSN: 1619-697X
PURE UUID: e349ce28-1345-4ea1-abd6-0340e05bd3da
ORCID for S.C. Brailsford: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6665-8230

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Date deposited: 06 Jun 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:41

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Contributors

Author: S.C. Brailsford ORCID iD
Author: W. J. Gutjahr
Author: M. S. Rauner
Author: W. Zeppelzauer

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