Operations research within UK healthcare: a review
Journal of Enterprise Information Management
ISSN: 1741-0398
Article publication date: 8 February 2013
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the existing literature on the wide range of operations research (OR) studies applied to healthcare, and to classify studies based on application type and on the OR technique employed. The scope of the review is limited to studies which have been undertaken in the UK, and to papers published since the year 2000.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 142 high‐quality journal and conference papers have been identified from ISI Web of Knowledge data base for review and analysis.
Findings
The findings categorise the OR techniques employed, and analyse the application type, publication trends, funding, and software packages used in the twenty‐first century in UK healthcare. Publication trends indicate an increasing use of OR techniques in UK healthcare. The findings show that, interestingly, the distribution of the OR techniques employed is not uniform; the majority of studies focus on simulation, either as the only technique employed or as one element of a multi‐method approach.
Originality/value
Several studies have focused on the use of simulation in healthcare modelling, but none has methodologically reviewed the use of the full range of OR techniques. This research is likely to benefit healthcare decision makers since it will provide them with an overview of the different studies that have utilised multiple OR techniques for investigating problems in the stated domain.
Keywords
Citation
Fakhimi, M. and Probert, J. (2013), "Operations research within UK healthcare: a review", Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Vol. 26 No. 1/2, pp. 21-49. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410391311289532
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited