Medical decision making: Selection of the appropriate surgical mode for undescended testicle treatment

Gulsah Hancerliogullari Koksalmis, Kadir Oymen Hancerliogullari, Basak Cetinguc, Murat Durucu, Fethi Calisir*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study is designed to provide paediatric surgeons' perspectives on the relative importance of the criteria for choosing a surgical mode for undescended testicle treatment between open surgery (orchiopexy) or laparoscopic surgery and determine the suitable surgical mode by using the multicriteria decision-making method. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), and Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) methods are utilized. A decision hierarchy is set with a goal, criteria, and alternatives. Our model is developed on the basis of four main criteria (time-related, patient-related, recovery-related, and complication-related factors) and 11 subcriteria (operation duration, length of stay in hospital, preoperative preparation time, recovery period after surgery, age of patient, weight of patient, aesthetic appearance, quality of life satisfaction, recurrence, possibility of infection, and vital function) as well as two alternatives, laparoscopy and open surgery. An online questionnaire was sent to the paediatric surgeons; responses from the 31 experts (i.e., paediatric surgeons) indicate that the most important criteria are found to be the time-related factors, especially preoperative preparation time. On the other hand, the least important criteria are found to be complication-related factors. Moreover, laparoscopy is chosen as the most suitable method for the undescended testicle using the AHP, TOPSIS, and VIKOR methods. This study helps paediatric surgeons' decision making by elucidating their priority criteria and representing their decision-making process in terms of quantity with the help of AHP, TOPSIS, and VIKOR methodologies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)145-151
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis
Volume26
Issue number3-4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Keywords

  • AHP
  • TOPSIS
  • VIKOR
  • medical decision making
  • undescended testicle

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