@article{198b908d1d06462b99b0205b675de375,
title = "Development of a resource modelling tool to support decision makers in pandemic influenza preparedness: The AsiaFluCap Simulator",
abstract = "Background: Health care planning for pandemic influenza is a challenging task which requires predictive models by which the impact of different response strategies can be evaluated. However, current preparedness plans and simulations exercises, as well as freely available simulation models previously made for policy makers, do not explicitly address the availability of health care resources or determine the impact of shortages on public health. Nevertheless, the feasibility of health systems to implement response measures or interventions described in plans and trained in exercises depends on the available resource capacity. As part of the AsiaFluCap project, we developed a comprehensive and flexible resource modelling tool to support public health officials in understanding and preparing for surges in resource demand during future pandemics. Results: The AsiaFluCap Simulator is a combination of a resource model containing 28 health care resources and an epidemiological model. The tool was built in MS Excel",
keywords = "Decision making, Health care resources, Influenza modelling, Pandemic exercises, Pandemic influenza, Preparedness, Public health officials, Simulator",
author = "Stein, {Mart Lambertus} and Rudge, {James W.} and Richard Coker and {Van Der Weijden}, Charlie and Ralf Krumkamp and Piya Hanvoravongchai and Irwin Chavez and Weerasak Putthasri and Bounlay Phommasack and Wiku Adisasmito and Sok Touch and Sat, {Le Minh} and Hsu, {Yu Chen} and Mirjam Kretzschmar and Aura Timen",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Ralf Reintjes from Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and Andr{\'e} Jacobi from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands, for the discussions on the application of the model. We are grateful to Axel Bonacic Marinovic from the RIVM for discussions on the model structure and to Mehdi Alkadhimi of the IT department of the RIVM for writing the source code for the user-interface. Furthermore, we thank the Regional Consultants Communicable Disease Control of the RIVM for their valuable input during the system pilot sessions. We are grateful to Nicola Lord and Wasamon Sabaiwan for their excellent administrative support. This work was conducted as part of the {\textquoteleft}AsiaFluCap: Health system analysis to support capacity development in response to the threat of pandemic influenza in Asia{\textquoteright}, a European Commission project funded within the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013), grant agreement number: Health-F3-2008-201823, and the Rockefeller Foundation Grant 2008 DSN 2001. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.",
year = "2012",
doi = "10.1186/1471-2458-12-870",
language = "English",
volume = "12",
journal = "BMC Public Health",
issn = "1471-2458",
publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd.",
number = "1",
}