Authors:
Maria Hajłasz
and
Bożena Mielczarek
Affiliation:
Faculty of Management, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, ul. Ignacego Łukasiewicza 5, 50-371 Wrocław, Poland
Keyword(s):
Hybrid Simulation, Agent-based Simulation, Discrete Event Simulation, Dental Caries, Decision Support.
Abstract:
Dental caries is a disease caused by medical and nonmedical factors. It can be prevented by taking conscious preventive action. In addition to the services provided by dentists and dental hygienists, awareness is very important in preventing the development of the disease. Awareness can be shaped, among other things, by the environment of peers. The aim of this paper is to use a hybrid simulation to investigate the impact of supportive, neutral, and non-supportive peer environments on strengthening or weakening the effectiveness of dental caries prevention in students of a sample primary school in southwestern Poland. Three experiments were carried out in which the effectiveness of preventive services varied. The effectiveness depended on the individual approach of the students to oral hygiene and dietary habits. Depending on the frequency of changing the closest peer environment, individual student attitudes change over time, which in turn affects the effectiveness of preventive ser
vices. Hybrid simulation, which combines discrete event simulation and agent-based simulation, used to model the effectiveness of caries prevention programs may be useful from the perspective of planning preventive care dedicated to children in schools.
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