The Use and Misuse of Mathematical Modeling for Infectious Disease Policymaking: Lessons for the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Med Decis Making
; 41(4): 379-385, 2021 05.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1153777
ABSTRACT
Mathematical modeling has played a prominent and necessary role in the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with an increasing number of models being developed to track and project the spread of the disease, as well as major decisions being made based on the results of these studies. A proliferation of models, often diverging widely in their projections, has been accompanied by criticism of the validity of modeled analyses and uncertainty as to when and to what extent results can be trusted. Drawing on examples from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases of global importance, we review key limitations of mathematical modeling as a tool for interpreting empirical data and informing individual and public decision making. We present several approaches that have been used to strengthen the validity of inferences drawn from these analyses, approaches that will enable better decision making in the current COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Policy Making
/
Public Health
/
Communicable Diseases
/
Policy
/
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
/
Models, Theoretical
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Med Decis Making
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
0272989x21990391
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS