hSNS publication in Omega – The International Journal of Management Science

Improving medical decision-making with a management science game theory approach to liver transplantation

Authors: Francisco V. Mendonça; Margarida Catalão-Lopes; Rui Tato Marinho; José Rui Figueira.

Abstract: Even though nowadays medicine is necessarily linked with technology, it is still a service involving human interaction, which frequently requires the help of management science tools. Indeed, a medical consultation can be an extremely complex example of human interaction. Management science, operations research and in particular game theory may play a key role in helping to improve the results of medical decision-making processes. Game theory is widely used in a large variety of decision-making studies, but there is little application to health care issues, namely the doctor-patient relationship. This paper uses game theory to model the liver transplantation consultation for patients suffering from Alcoholic Liver Disease. This disease is very delicate, and patients at its end-stages require special dedication where management science tools are of utmost importance. They may try to deceive doctors, which may lead to bad outcomes. The Nash equilibrium behaviors by doctor and patient are obtained. Results show some health policy and managerial implications on the decision-makers’ parameters and on the order of play so as to achieve, for instance, higher rates of patient’s cooperation.

Keywords: Management science; Operations research; Game theory; Health care; Alcoholism; Liver transplantation.

[Bibliographic reference] Mendonça, FV; Catalão-Lopes, M; Marinho, RT; Figueira, JR (2019). Improving medical decision-making with a management science game theory approach to liver transplantation. Omega. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omega.2019.03.008

About the journal: Omega reports on developments in management, including the latest research results and applications. Original contributions and review articles describe the state of the art in specific fields or functions of management, while there are shorter critical assessments of particular management techniques. Other features of the journal are the “Memoranda” section for short communications and “Feedback”, a correspondence column. Omega is both stimulating reading and an important source for practising managers, specialists in management services, operational research workers and management scientists, management consultants, academics, students and research personnel throughout the world. The material published is of high quality and relevance, written in a manner which makes it accessible to all of this wide-ranging readership. Preference will be given to papers with implications to the practice of management. Submissions of purely theoretical papers are discouraged. The review of material for publication in the journal reflects this aim.