Fuzzy Decision Trees in Medical Decision Making Support Systems

Abstract

Fuzzy decision trees represent classification knowledge more naturally to the way of human thinking and are more robust in tolerating imprecise, conflict, and missing information. Decision Making Support Systems are used widely in clinical medicine because decisions play an important role in diagnostic processes. Decision trees are a very suitable candidate for induction of simple decision-making models with the possibility of automatic learning. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate a new approach for predictive data mining models in clinical medicine. This approach is based on induction of fuzzy decision trees. This approach allows us to build decision-making modesl with different properties (ordered, stability etc.). Three new types of fuzzy decision trees (non-ordered, ordered and stable) are considered in the paper. Induction of these fuzzy decision trees is based on cumulative information estimates. Results of experimental investigation are presented. Predictive data mining is becoming an essential instrument for researchers and clinical practitioners in medicine. Using new approaches based on fuzzy decision trees allows to increase the prediction accuracy. Decision trees are a very suitable candidate for induction using simple decision-making models with the possibility of automatic and AI learning.