Simulation modeling of outcomes and cost effectiveness

Simulation modeling is widely used to assess both the relative effectivenes s and cost effectiveness of competing cancer screening and treatment strate gies. Models are used to examine factors that may influence observed patter ns of disease, guide clinical practice policy recommendations, and assist i n the design of clinical studies. The process of modeling involves defining the structure of the model in a way that represents the disease and clinic al management options, selecting content or data to inform the model, gener ating results, and evaluating the influence of uncertainties about the chos en structure and data on the final results. Because modeling is complex, re quiring each model to be individually tailored to the clinical problem, car eful documentation of the structure, content, and influence of uncertain el ements is essential.