Figen Sarigul Yildirim1, Murat Sayan2,3, Tamer Sanlidag3,4, Berna Uzun3,5, Dilber Uzun Ozsahin3,6, Ilker Ozsahin3,6. 1. Health Science University, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Antalya 07050, Turkey. 2. Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Laboratory, PCR Unit, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey. 3. DESAM Institute, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia/TRNC, Mersin 10, Turkey. 4. Department of Medical Microbiology, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey. 5. Department of Mathematics, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia/TRNC, Mersin 10, Turkey. 6. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia/TRNC, Mersin 10, Turkey.
Abstract
Objectives: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019. Until now, many drugs and methods have been used in the treatment of the disease. However, no effective treatment option has been found and only case-based successes have been achieved so far. This study aims to evaluate COVID-19 treatment options using multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the available COVID-19 treatment options by MCDM techniques, namely, fuzzy PROMETHEE and VIKOR. These techniques are based on the evaluation and comparison of complex and multiple criteria to evaluate the most appropriate alternative. We evaluated current treatment options including favipiravir (FPV), lopinavir/ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, interleukin-1 blocker, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and plasma exchange. The criteria used for the analysis include side effects, method of administration of the drug, cost, turnover of plasma, level of fever, age, pregnancy, and kidney function. Results: The results showed that plasma exchange was the most preferred alternative, followed by FPV and IVIG, while hydroxychloroquine was the least favorable one. New alternatives could be considered once they are available, and weights could be assigned based on the opinions of the decision-makers (physicians/clinicians). The treatment methods that we evaluated with MCDM methods will be beneficial for both healthcare users and to rapidly end the global pandemic. The proposed method is applicable for analyzing the alternatives to the selection problem with quantitative and qualitative data. In addition, it allows the decision-maker to define the problem simply under uncertainty. Conclusions: Fuzzy PROMETHEE and VIKOR techniques are applied in aiding decision-makers in choosing the right treatment technique for the management of COVID-19.
Objectives: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019. Until now, many drugs and methods have been used in the treatment of the disease. However, no effective treatment option has been found and only case-based successes have been achieved so far. This study aims to evaluate COVID-19 treatment options using multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the available COVID-19 treatment options by MCDM techniques, namely, fuzzy PROMETHEE and VIKOR. These techniques are based on the evaluation and comparison of complex and multiple criteria to evaluate the most appropriate alternative. We evaluated current treatment options including favipiravir (FPV), lopinavir/ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, interleukin-1 blocker, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and plasma exchange. The criteria used for the analysis include side effects, method of administration of the drug, cost, turnover of plasma, level of fever, age, pregnancy, and kidney function. Results: The results showed that plasma exchange was the most preferred alternative, followed by FPV and IVIG, while hydroxychloroquine was the least favorable one. New alternatives could be considered once they are available, and weights could be assigned based on the opinions of the decision-makers (physicians/clinicians). The treatment methods that we evaluated with MCDM methods will be beneficial for both healthcare users and to rapidly end the global pandemic. The proposed method is applicable for analyzing the alternatives to the selection problem with quantitative and qualitative data. In addition, it allows the decision-maker to define the problem simply under uncertainty. Conclusions: Fuzzy PROMETHEE and VIKOR techniques are applied in aiding decision-makers in choosing the right treatment technique for the management of COVID-19.
Authors: Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez; Eduardo Navarro-Jiménez; Pablo Ruisoto; Athanasios A Dalamitros; Ana Isabel Beltran-Velasco; Alberto Hormeño-Holgado; Carmen Cecilia Laborde-Cárdenas; Jose Francisco Tornero-Aguilera Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-14 Impact factor: 3.390