Multi-Criteria Decision Making in Health Care Using Ahp and Microsoft Excel

This article presents a practical application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for multi‑criteria decision making in healthcare, implemented through a custom spreadsheet developed in Microsoft Excel. AHP, created by Saaty in the 1970s, enables complex decisions to be structured into hierarchies of criteria and alternatives, using pairwise comparisons and consistency checking to ensure rigorous evaluation. To facilitate its use among healthcare professionals, the authors developed a free Excel-based tool (AHPDM.xlsm) that automates the full decision-making workflow, including hierarchy modeling, comparison of criteria and alternatives, synthesis of priorities, and identification of the optimal option. The tool is designed for transparency, customization, and educational value, displaying all intermediate calculations. A tutorial file is also provided, illustrating a shared decision‑making scenario for selecting the best treatment for early‑stage breast cancer, validated using the Expert Choice® software. Overall, the study demonstrates that integrating AHP into an accessible platform like Excel enhances clarity, analytical rigor, and shared decision-making in medical contexts.