ASF (Ashby and Smith Framework)

Recommended for further appraisal for use in benefit-risk assessment

1. Description

ASF (Ashby and Smith framework) is a simple framework for evidence-based medical decision-making addressing five aspects: the decision-maker, the possible actions, the uncertain consequences, the sources of evidence, and the utility assessments

2. Evaluation

This framework is both a descriptive framework and a modelling proposal. It combines the objective aspect (chances of consequences) and the subjective aspect (preferences of consequences) of the problem in a clear and explicit way based on available evidence. The summary of its components is shown below:

An application of the Ashby and Smith Framework is available here.

3. References

[1] Ashby D, Smith AF. Evidence-based medicine as Bayesian decision-making. Stat Med 2000 Dec 15;19(23):3291-305.
[2] Mt-Isa S, Tzoulaki I, Callreus T, Micaleff A, Ashby D. Weighing benefit-risk of medicines: concepts and approaches. Drug Discovery Today: Technologies Spring 2011. 8(1):e29-e35.