CONSTRUCTION OF A LITERATURE DATABASE AND ITS USE TO PROVIDE PROBABILITIES FOR DECISION-ANALYTIC MODELS OF THROMBOLYTIC THERAPY

Probabilities for decision-analytic models are routinely obtained from the medical literature. This study describes development and use of a literature database to facilitate obtaining probabilities for decisio n-analytic models of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarct ion. Implementation demonstrates the concept of a literature database to be both feasible and effective. Specific difficulties encountered i n the evaluation of continuous variables, the potential storage of act ual probabilities, and the advantage for easy growth with the literatu re are discussed.