Operations Research

By Dr. S.M. Israr

Aga Khan UniversityKarachi, Pakistan

Operations Research

Session Objectives:

To describe the need and importance of Operations Research for rationale decision making in health care delivery To discuss the basic Operations Research concepts and techniques for solving particular problem and identification of appropriate solution To develop a research proposal using the general approach for Operations Research

Delivery of health care

-Primary care -Secondary care -Tertiary care Management

-Leadership-Decision-making-planning-implementation -monitoring and evaluation -information Regulation

Economic support -Public sources of finance-Employers-Organized volun- tary agencies-Local community efforts-Foreign Aid-Private households-Other

Organized arrangement of resources -National health authorities -Health insurance programmes -Other governmental agencies -Non-governmental agencies -Independent private sector

Development of health resource-Manpower -Facilities -Equipment and supplies -Knowledge

Operations Research

Operations Research is the application of analytical methods designed to help the decision makers choose between various courses of action available to accomplish specified objectives

Operations Research - Methodology

OperationsResearch

Problem Analysis

Solution

Development

SolutionValidation

Evaluation Implementation

Operations Research Approach

• Phase -I PROBLEM ANALYSIS

–Define the Operations Research

–Analyze the problem and divide into smaller units

– Establish research priorities

Operations Research Approach

• Phase-II SOLUTION DEVELOPMENT – Specify solution objectives– Specify decision variables and stipulate

constraints on the solution– Identify or construct an appropriate

model for solution development–Determine and obtain required data–Develop solutions using analytical model

Operations Research Approach

• Phase-III SOLUTION VALIDATION

–Design field test

– Implement field test

– Evaluate the propose solution

– modify if necessary

– Integrate the solution with the larger system

Phase -I, Problem Analysis1. Define the operational problem

Discussion of problem with all stake- holders

Identifying subsystemsDevelop objectives for subsystemsobtaining consensus on objectives of the

subsystem

Phase -I, Problem Analysis 2. Analyze the problem and divide into smaller units

Operational problem is analyzed in

detail. The problem is broken into smaller

units. This is presented graphically. The graph shows inputs, outputs and

the outside factors.

Phase -I, Problem Analysis 3. Establishing Research Priorities

First look at the system as a whole and then as a cluster of major subsystems.

Then ask where one should expect modifications to produce the greatest positive impact on outputs.

Phase -II, Solution Development 1. Specify solution objectives

Solution objectives are statements of the desired solutions to the operational problem.

These are usually stated in terms of system efficiency that is conservation of inputs and maximization of outputs.

Fixed inputs with maximum outputs. Minimum inputs with maximum outputs.

Phase -II, Solution Development2. Specify decision variables and stipulate constraints on the solution

• Decision variables are factors that both play a role in determining how a system functions and are also within the control of the system manager.

• Amount of ORS packets• Training methods

• Factors that limit the the practical range of one or more decision variables are called constraints.

• Socio-economic, ethnicity, occupation, educational level, weather, terrain

Phase -II, Solution Development3. Identify or construct an appropriate model for solution development

Model building is the essence of the operations research

A model is the simplified representation of the real world

Resource allocationNetworkingCost-analysis

Phase-III SOLUTION VALIDATION1. Design field test

How believable are the outcome of the field test.

ExperimentalNon-experimentalQuasi-experimental

Phase-III SOLUTION VALIDATION2. Implementing the field test

• Determination of requisite resources

• Development of management scheme

• Development of training material

• Arrangements of obtaining human and other resources needed

• Design of an information system

Phase-III SOLUTION VALIDATION3. Evaluating,modifying and integrating the solutions

• Continuous assessment to ensure refinements of inputs

• Integrating the solution within the system

An Example………………...

TB control Program. High defaulter rate among TB

patients. How to assess the situation?