Methods of decision analysis: protocols, decision trees, and algorithms in medicine.

Algorithms, decision trees, and protocols are defined and explained since they constitute an accepted part of clinical decision analysis and application to clinical care. Algorithms are particularly useful for common clinical problems where uncertainties are unlikely. Decision trees are helpful when--as usually occurs in difficult clinical decisions--there are problems in probability. Clinical protocols, which, at best, are based on algorithms and decision trees, provide instruction of how to best treat a patient given the strict definitions of the clinical problem. These techniques are, in essence, merely graphic representations of a logical scientific approach to clinical problems. Criticisms of these techniques center on their rigidity and the automatic unthinking cookbook medicine they might sponsor. It is concluded that if these techniques are wisely designed and, even more importantly, wisely administered with an understanding flexibility, they can lead to both economy and patient benefit.