Title
An Innovative Approach for Decision-Making on Designing Lifestyle Programs to Reduce Type 2 Diabetes on Dutch Population Level Using Dynamic Simulations
Author
Sluijs, T.
Lokkers, L.
Özsezen, S.
Veldhuis, G.A.
Wortelboer, H.M.
Publication year
2021
Abstract
The number of individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes is dramatically increasing worldwide, resulting in an increasing burden on society and rising healthcare costs. With increasing evidence supporting lifestyle intervention programs to reduce type 2 diabetes, and the use of scenario simulations for policy support, there is an opportunity to improve population interventions based upon cost–benefit analysis of especially complex lifestyle intervention programs through dynamic simulations. In this article, we used the System Dynamics (SD) modeling methodology aiming to develop a simulation model for policy makers and health professionals to gain a clear understanding of the patient journey of type 2 diabetes mellitus and to assess the impact of lifestyle intervention programs on total cost for society associated with prevention and lifestyle treatment of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes in The Netherlands. Systemdynamics describes underlying structure in the form of causal relationships, stocks, flows, and delays to explore behavior and simulate scenarios, in order to prescribe intervention programs. The methodology has the opportunity to estimate and simulate the consequences of unforeseen interactions in order to prescribe intervention programs based on scenarios tested through “what-if” experiments. First, the extensive knowledge of diabetes, current available data on the type 2 diabetes population, lifestyle intervention programs, and associated cost in The Netherlands were captured in one simulation model. Next, the relationships between leverage points on the growth of type 2 diabetes population were based upon available data. Subsequently, the cost and benefits of future lifestyle intervention programs on reducing diabetes were simulated, identifying the need for an integrated adaptive design of lifestyle programs while collecting the appropriate data over time. The strengths and limitations of scenario simulations of complex lifestyle intervention programs to improve the (cost)effectiveness of these programs to reduce diabetes in a more sustainable way compared to usual care are discussed.
Subject
System dynamic model
Type 2 diabetes
Lifestyle, cost-benefit
Patient journey modeling
Decision support mode
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:cda4df73-123e-4eb8-82b6-0d254d5b9bf8
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.652694
TNO identifier
956476
Source
Frontiers in Public Health, 9 (9)
Document type
article