Discrete Event Simulation for Health Technology Assessment

63Central Concepts

2.9 Using Influence Diagrams

Inuence diagrams are a very useful way of representing decision problems

(Parnell etal. 2013). In inuence diagrams, the required problem concepts

are represented as shapes (typically ovals) with arrows connecting them.

For example, the design of an atrial brillation model might start with ovals

representing the concepts: non-valvular atrial brillation (NVAF), thromboembo-

lism, and death (Figure2.14). Arrows are then drawn connecting the concept

ovals to indicate the inuence of one concept on another, with the concept

at the beginning of the arrow (the parent node) inuencing the one at the ...