The potential use of game theory in decision-making in CHD.

Background

Congenital cardiac care involves multiple stakeholders including patients and their families, surgeons, cardiologists, anaesthetists, the wider multidisciplinary team, healthcare providers, and manufacturers, all of whom are involved in the decision-making process to some degree. Game theory utilises human behaviour to address the dynamics involved in a decision and what the best payoff is depending on the decision of other players. Aim: By presenting these interactions as a strategic game, this paper aims to provide a descriptive analysis on the utility and effectiveness of game theory in optimising decision-making in congenital cardiac care. Methodology: The comprehensive literature was searched to identify papers on game theory, and its application within surgery.

Results

The analysis demonstrated that by utilising game theories, decision-making can be more aligned with patient-centric approaches, potentially improving clinical outcomes.

Conclusion

Game theory is a useful tool for improving decision-making and may pave the way for more efficient and improved patient-centric approaches.