TY - JOUR
T1 - Factored Stochastic Trees
T2 - A Tool for solving Complex Temporal Medical Decision Models
AU - Hazen, Gordon B.
PY - 1993/8
Y1 - 1993/8
N2 - The stochastic tree is a continuous-time version of a Markov-cycle tree, useful for constructing and solving medical decision models in which risks of mortality and morbidity may extend over time. Stochastic trees have advantages over Markov-cycle trees in graphic display and computational solution. Like the decision tree or Markov-cycle tree, stochastic tree models of complex medical decision problems can be too large for convenient graphic formulation and display. This paper introduces the notion of factoring a large stochastic tree into simpler components, each of which may be easily displayed. It also shows how the rollback solution procedure for unfactored stochastic trees may be conveniently adapted to solve factored trees. These concepts are illustrated using published examples from the medical literature. Key words: stochastic trees; DEALE models; decision analysis; Markov-cycle trees; temporal medical decision modeling.
AB - The stochastic tree is a continuous-time version of a Markov-cycle tree, useful for constructing and solving medical decision models in which risks of mortality and morbidity may extend over time. Stochastic trees have advantages over Markov-cycle trees in graphic display and computational solution. Like the decision tree or Markov-cycle tree, stochastic tree models of complex medical decision problems can be too large for convenient graphic formulation and display. This paper introduces the notion of factoring a large stochastic tree into simpler components, each of which may be easily displayed. It also shows how the rollback solution procedure for unfactored stochastic trees may be conveniently adapted to solve factored trees. These concepts are illustrated using published examples from the medical literature. Key words: stochastic trees; DEALE models; decision analysis; Markov-cycle trees; temporal medical decision modeling.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027288919&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0027288919&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0272989X9301300309
DO - 10.1177/0272989X9301300309
M3 - Article
C2 - 8412552
AN - SCOPUS:0027288919
SN - 0272-989X
VL - 13
SP - 227
EP - 236
JO - Medical Decision Making
JF - Medical Decision Making
IS - 3
ER -