What is a decision-analytic model?

• A. A mathematical model combining data from multiple sources to estimate costs and outcomes when direct data are incomplete.
• B. A clinical trial design.
• C. A marketing analysis model.
• D. A purely theoretical framework with no data.

Answer: (C)

A decision-analytic model is a mathematical framework that brings together data from multiple sources to estimate the costs and health outcomes of different care options when direct data are incomplete. It lays out the clinical pathways, assigns probabilities to events, attaches costs and outcomes to each path, and sums them over a chosen time horizon to compare strategies. This approach lets you project long-term consequences, incorporate different sources of evidence (trial data, observational studies, expert opinion), and assess uncertainty with sensitivity analyses. It commonly takes the form of decision trees for straightforward decisions or more complex structures like Markov models or microsimulation for conditions where patients move between health states over time. In cost-effectiveness work, it helps determine which option offers the best value given a willingness-to-pay threshold.