An integrated multi-criteria decision making methodology for health technology assessment

This study presents a synthesis on the application of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methodologies as an innovative tool to provide a more robust and reliable selection or ranking processes for health technology assessment (HTA). HTA is described as the 'systematic' evaluation of health related technologies with respect to multiple criteria. Thus, to carry out effective HTA processes, decision-makers should consider utilising integrated or hybrid decision making processes. In this study, we develop a decision support tool called 'DEMATSEL' which serves as an integrated MCDM methodology in fuzzy environments. Our integrated approach combines four widely-used MCDM methods, viz. fuzzy AHP, fuzzy TOPSIS, fuzzy VIKOR and goal programming. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed novel approach on a fuzzy HTA case study of bariatric surgery selection in Turkey. [Submitted 4 July 2017; Revised 30 December 2017; Accepted 27 February 2018]