The Financial Implications of Using Decision Tree Analysis for Publicly Funded Health Care Screening in Canada

This article demonstrates that decision trees have several applications in screening for incidences of various cancers in the publicly funded health care system of Canada. This article reviews previous research on the design of various types of decision trees to identify the relevant decision-making parameters that should be incorporated into enhanced usage of decision trees. This article proposes a methodology for screening breast and prostate cancers. While an accounting is made for various financial costs and benefits, comments are made on the limitations of the modeling exercise through identification of problems in assigning probabilities, the use of samples in ascertaining population parameters, ethical concerns, and measuring a cost per life year. This article concludes with prospects for future research including private sector versus public sector financing and the incorporation of opportunity costs into the decision-making process.