Cost–benefit Analysis: From 2 Different Sources
The systematic comparison, in monetary terms, of all the costs and benefits of proposed alternative schemes with a view to determining: which scheme or combination of schemes will contribute most to the achievement of predetermined objectives at a fixed level of investment; or the magnitude of the benefit that can result from schemes requiring the minimum investment. The resources required per unit of benefit must be determined, account being taken of the fact that costs and benefits accrue with time. For example, the cost of establishing a home and community care programme might be compared with the total cost of building residential facilities. Cost-benefit analysis can also be applied to specific medical tests and treatments.
an analytical process for weighing up the possible losses (costs) and gains (benefits) of an action or policy, often in monetary or numerical form, and usually as a means of deciding between alternatives. In medicine, it is particularly associated with the setting of priorities in allocating limited health-care resources. Analysis may result in a cost–benefit ratio. Compare risk–benefit analysis. See also consequentialism; quality of life; rationing.
A statistical procedure to combine results from different studies on a similar topic. The combination of results from multiple studies may produce a stronger conclusion than can be provided by any singular study. Meta-analysis is generally most appropriate when there are no definitive studies on a topic and non-definitive studies are in some disagreement.... meta-analysis
Analysis means a separation into component parts by determination of the chemical constituents of a substance. The process of analysis is carried out by various means, for example: chromatographic analysis by means of the adsorption column; colorimetric analysis by means of various colour tests; densimetric analysis by estimation of the speci?c gravity; gasometric analysis by estimation of the di?erent gases given o? in some process; polariscope analysis by means of the polariscope; and volumetric analysis by measuring volumes of liquids. Analysis is also sometimes used as an abbreviation for PSYCHOANALYSIS.... analysis
Actual expenses incurred to provide a health care product or service. Cost can be divided into a number of types including: average cost: The average cost per unit; equals the total cost divided by the units of production. avoided cost: Cost caused by a health problem that is avoided by a health care intervention. direct cost: Cost borne by the health care system, the community and families, e.g. diagnosis and treatment costs. A cost that is identifiable directly with a particular activity, service or product. fixed cost: Costs that, within a defined period, do not vary with the quantity produced, e.g. overhead costs of maintaining a building. incremental cost: The difference between marginal costs of alternative interventions. indirect cost: Cost which cannot be identified directly with a particular activity, service or product of the programme experiencing the cost. Indirect costs are usually apportioned among the programme’s services in proportion to each service’s share of direct costs. intangible cost: The cost of pain and suffering resulting from a disease, condition or intervention. marginal cost: The additional cost required to produce an additional unit of benefit (e.g. unit of health outcome). operating cost: In the health field, the financial requirements necessary to operate an activity that provides health services. These costs normally include costs of personnel, materials, overheads, depreciation and interest. opportunity cost: The benefit foregone, or value of opportunities lost, by engaging resources in a service. It is usually quantified by considering the benefit that would accrue by investing the same resources in the best alternative manner. recurrent cost: An item of expenditure that recurs year after year, such as the remuneration of health workers and other staff; the cost of food and other goods and services; the cost of vaccines, medicines, appliances and other supplies; the replacement of equipment; and the maintenance of buildings and equipment. tangible cost: Objective elements in the production of care, i.e. number of personnel, beds, consumables, technologies, staff qualifications. total cost: The sum of all costs incurred in producing a set quantity of service.... cost
The personal cost of acute or chronic disease. The cost to the patient may be an economic, social or psychological cost or loss to himself, his family or community. The cost of illness may be reflected in absenteeism, productivity, response to treatment, peace of mind, quality of life, etc. It differs from health care costs in that this concept is restricted to the cost of providing services related to the delivery of health care, rather than the impact on the personal life of the patient. See “burden of disease”.... cost of illness
The additional benefit (e.g. in units of health outcome) produced by an additional resource use (e.g. another health care intervention).... marginal benefit
A set of techniques used when the variation in several variables has to be studied simultaneously. In statistics, any analytic method that allows the simultaneous study of two or more independent variables.... multivariate analysis
The process of analysing and comparing, on a single scale, the expected positive (benefits) and negative (risks, costs) results of an action, or lack of an action.... risk-benefit analysis
See “cost”.... average cost
See “cost”.... avoided cost
Non-cash forms of payment or assistance.... benefit in kind
A systematic analysis of the content rather than the structure of a communication, such as a written work, speech or film, including the study of thematic and symbolic elements to determine the objective or meaning of the communication.... content analysis
An accounting device whereby all related costs attributable to some “financial centre” within an organization, such as a department, centre or programme, are segregated for accounting or reimbursement purposes.... cost centre
A set of steps to control or reduce inefficiencies in the consumption, allocation or production of health care services which contribute to higher than necessary costs.... cost containment
A determination of the least costly among alternative interventions that are assumed to produce equivalent outcomes.... cost minimization analysis
A case which is more costly to treat compared with other persons in a particular diagnosis-related group. Outliers also refer to any unusual occurrence of cost, cases which skew average costs or unusual procedures.... cost outlier
Payment method whereby a person is required to pay some health costs in order to receive medical care. The general set of financing arrangements whereby the consumer must pay out-of-pocket to receive care, either at the time of initiating care or during the provision of health care services, or both. Cost sharing can also occur when an insured person pays a portion of the monthly premium for health care insurance.... cost sharing
Recouping the cost of providing uncompensated care by increasing revenues from some payers to offset losses and lower net payments from other payers.... cost shifting
The relationship between the cost of an activity and the benefit that accrues from it.... cost-benefit
A form of analysis that seeks to determine the costs and effectiveness of a health intervention compared with similar alternative interventions to determine the relative degree to which they will obtain the desired health outcome(s).... cost-effectiveness analysis
The extent to which financial resources are being used as well as possible.... cost-efficiency
A determination of the economic impact of a disease or health condition, including treatment costs.... cost-of-illness analysis
Increase to a monthly long-term disability benefit, usually after the first year of payments. May be a flat percentage (e.g. 3%) or tied to changes in inflation.... cost-of-living adjustment (cola)
A form of cost-effectiveness analysis of alternative interventions in which costs are measured in monetary units and outcomes are measured in terms of their utility, usually to the individual, e.g. using QALYs.... cross-utility analysis
An approach to decision-making that involves modelling the sequences or pathways of multiple possible strategies (e.g. of diagnosis and treatment for a particular clinical problem) to determine which is optimal. It is based upon available estimates (drawn from the literature or from experts) of the probabilities that certain events and outcomes will occur and the values of the outcomes that would result from each strategy.... decision analysis
See “cost”.... direct cost
See “cost”.... fixed cost
See “cost”.... incremental cost
See “cost”.... indirect cost
The Industrial Injuries Scheme provides money for people who have suffered injury or illness because of their work. Bene?ts for employment-related disability (selfemployment is excluded) have been altered many times since they were introduced in 1948. There is now a mix of bene?ts, eligibility for which depends on several factors: the date, onset and type of disability are among the most important. ‘Industrial’ includes almost all forms of employment. In addition to accidents, there is a long list of prescribed industrial diseases ranging from BURSITIS, hearing loss, ASTHMA and viral HEPATITIS to unusual ones such as ORF. Psychological as well as physical disablement may attract bene?t, which is calculated on a percentage basis according to the extent of disability. The onus is on the individual to claim, and trade unions and representative organisations can advise on procedures. Injured employees should always report details of an accident to their employer and record it in the accident book promptly: even seemingly minor injuries may subsequently lead to some disability. Relevant information lea?ets are available – for example, from local bene?t agencies, local-authority advice centres and public libraries.... industrial injuries benefit
The cost of pain and suffering resulting from a disease, condition or intervention.... intangible cost
A school of ‘analytical psychology’, ?rst described by Carl Gustav Jung in 1913. It introduced the concepts of ‘introvert’ and ‘extrovert’ personalities, and developed the theory of the ‘collective unconscious’ with its archetypes of man’s basic psychic nature. In contrast with Freudian analysis (see FREUDIAN THEORY), in Jungian analysis the relationship between therapist and patient is less one-sided because the therapist is more willing to be active and to reveal information about him or herself. (See also PSYCHOANALYSIS.)... jungian analysis
See “cost”.... marginal cost
See “cost”.... operating cost
See “cost”.... opportunity cost
Review and analysis of practice profiles to identify and assess patterns of health care services.... profile analysis or profiling
See “cost”.... recurrent cost
A tool to estimate the relationships among a dependent variable Y and one (or many) independent variable(s) X. The purpose of regression analysis is to find the “best fit” data points from a straight line drawn on an XY graph.... regression analysis
A process for identifying the basic or causal factor(s) that underlie variations in performance, including the occurrence or possible occurrence of an error.... root-cause analysis
This type of analysis utilizes existing data sources either through synthesis or integration; meta-analysis is an example of secondary data analysis.... secondary data analysis
The unit to which a performance measure is applied (e.g. subjects, patients, clinicians, group of professionals).... unit (of analysis)
Hair is believed to be a “time capsule” of a person’s metabolic activity. Believed to be a useful means of acquiring information regarding the concentration of mineral nutrients and toxins. Alone, it does not provide sufficient evidence for purposes of diagnosis, but helpful in building a picture of the nutritional state of the patient. ... hair analysis
Determination of the identity of a substance or of the individual chemical constituents of a mixture. Analysis may be qualitative, as in determining whether a particular substance is present, or it may be quantitative, that is, measuring the amount or concentration of one or more constituents. (See also assay.)... analysis, chemical
See psychoanalysis.... analysis, psychological
a state benefit payable to a person disabled by injury or a prescribed industrial disease sustained or contracted in the course of employment (see occupational disease; prescribed disease). The benefit is payable as a weekly amount. The amount of the benefit depends on the degree of disablement as determined following assessment by a specialist. To be entitled to benefit, the disablement must be assessed as being at least 20% of total disability (1% in the case of pneumoconiosis, byssinosis, and diffuse mesothelioma). The benefit is payable if the claimant is still suffering disability two months or more after the date of the accident or onset of the disease. It is payable for a period assessed as the time for which the claimant is likely to suffer the disability. The assessment can be reviewed if the claimant’s condition deteriorates or if he or she is still disabled at the end of the period of assessment.... industrial injuries disablement benefit
a research process in which results are reported according to the treatment arm to which a research subject was assigned, rather than the treatment eventually received. Intention to treat analysis is very widely used in clinical research as a method of avoiding *bias resulting from nonrandom withdrawal from the trial or crossover between treatment arms.... intention to treat analysis
a technique for identifying a specific form of messenger RNA in cells. It uses a gene *probe known to match the RNA being sought. Compare Southern blot analysis; Western blot analysis.... northern blot analysis
analysis of a specimen of semen, which should be obtained after five days of abstinence from coitus, in order to assess male fertility. Normal values are as follows: volume of ejaculate: 2–6.5 ml; liquefaction complete in 30 minutes; sperm concentration: 20–200 million spermatozoa per ml (sperm count refers to the total number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate); motility: 60% moving progressively at 30 minutes to 3 hours; abnormal forms: less than 20%. Analysis of three separate specimens is necessary before confirming the presence of an abnormal result.... seminal analysis
a framework for exploring how care is delivered, based on the idea that there are six main styles of interaction (prescriptive, informative, confronting, cathartic, catalytic, and supportive). The analysis is widely used to help health-care professionals develop an understanding of interpersonal relationships, reflect on their own practice, and enhance their interactions with clients.... six-category intervention analysis
a technique for identifying a specific form of DNA in cells. The DNA is extracted from the cells and restriction enzymes used to cut it into small fragments. The fragments are separated and a gene *probe known to match the DNA fragment being sought is used. Compare Northern blot analysis; Western blot analysis. [E. M. Southern (1938– ), US biologist]... southern blot analysis
a technique for the detection of specific proteins. After separation by *electrophoresis, the proteins are bound to radioactively labelled antibodies and identified by X-ray. Compare Northern blot analysis; Southern blot analysis.... western blot analysis
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