Evaluation of drug options for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) treatment using the analytical hierarchy process improves decision-making transparency

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) poses considerable challenges in selecting appropriate treatments due to the interplay of factors such as drug efficacy, safety, cost, resistance, and patient compliance. To address these complexities, this study employs the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a structured and transparent decision-making framework for evaluating and ranking drug therapies for EOC. Using expert-driven pairwise comparisons, the study analyzes six key criteria: therapeutic efficacy, safety, route of administration, economic viability, patient compliance, and drug resistance. The AHP methodology assigns weighted priorities to each criterion and identifies the most effective and feasible treatment options based on these weights. Findings reveal that therapeutic efficacy holds the highest priority, followed by safety, while route of administration and economic viability are of moderate importance. Patient compliance and drug resistance, although relevant, ranked lower in the decision hierarchy. The results underscore the importance of prioritizing highly effective and safe drugs, while also factoring in cost and practical delivery considerations. This research demonstrates that AHP offers a robust, transparent tool for clinical decision-making, helping healthcare professionals systematically navigate complex treatment choices for EOC. By integrating expert judgment with structured evaluation, the study enhances drug selection strategies and supports improved patient outcomes in EOC management.