Towards incorporating human behaviour in models of health care systems: an approach using discrete event simulation
Towards incorporating human behaviour in models of health care systems: an approach using discrete event simulation
Operational Research models are well established as an effective tool for tackling a vast range of health care problems. Many of these models involve parameters which depend on human behaviour, and thus individuals’ characteristics or personality traits should be included. In this paper we describe a discrete event simulation model of attendance for screening for diabetic retinopathy, a sight-threatening complication of diabetes. This model takes into account the physical states, emotions, cognitions and social status of the persons involved. The model also uses some ideas from the discipline of health psychology. We believe that this approach provides what is potentially a far more accurate method of modelling patients’ attendance behaviour, compared with the standard approach of simple random sampling of patients. However, further empirical work is required, firstly to derive and validate more realistic forms of the model equations, secondly to select the appropriate psychological variables, and thirdly and inevitably to collect data.
health-related behaviour, modelling, agent-based simulation, screening
19-31
Brailsford, Sally
634585ff-c828-46ca-b33d-7ac017dda04f
Schmidt, Bernd
834302ea-e058-42d4-a099-420ab1a2d353
2003
Brailsford, Sally
634585ff-c828-46ca-b33d-7ac017dda04f
Schmidt, Bernd
834302ea-e058-42d4-a099-420ab1a2d353
Brailsford, Sally and Schmidt, Bernd
(2003)
Towards incorporating human behaviour in models of health care systems: an approach using discrete event simulation.
European Journal of Operational Research, 150 (1), .
(doi:10.1016/S0377-2217(02)00778-6).
Abstract
Operational Research models are well established as an effective tool for tackling a vast range of health care problems. Many of these models involve parameters which depend on human behaviour, and thus individuals’ characteristics or personality traits should be included. In this paper we describe a discrete event simulation model of attendance for screening for diabetic retinopathy, a sight-threatening complication of diabetes. This model takes into account the physical states, emotions, cognitions and social status of the persons involved. The model also uses some ideas from the discipline of health psychology. We believe that this approach provides what is potentially a far more accurate method of modelling patients’ attendance behaviour, compared with the standard approach of simple random sampling of patients. However, further empirical work is required, firstly to derive and validate more realistic forms of the model equations, secondly to select the appropriate psychological variables, and thirdly and inevitably to collect data.
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Published date: 2003
Keywords:
health-related behaviour, modelling, agent-based simulation, screening
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Local EPrints ID: 35901
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/35901
ISSN: 0377-2217
PURE UUID: 4c582112-6a00-45bc-a197-e259973fca33
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Date deposited: 23 May 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:41
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Author:
Bernd Schmidt
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