Dictionary

D

Decision Relevance PeriodTermDecision Validity Period, Relevance Horizon

The length of time a technology assessment decision is expected to remain applicable before newer evidence or treatments supersede it.

Decision RuleConceptChoice Rule, Explicit Decision Criterion

A decision rule is an explicit criterion, such as an ICER threshold or net benefit, for choosing between healthcare interventions in economic evaluation.

Decision Rule ApplicationTermRule Application, Threshold Application

The process of applying a predetermined criterion, such as a cost-effectiveness threshold, to an economic evaluation's results to reach a funding recommendation.

Decision SupportTermDSS, Support System

A computerised system providing providers or patients with relevant information to enhance decision-making at the point of need.

Decision TreeConceptTree Model, Branching Decision Model

A decision tree is a branching model used in economic evaluation: strategies, chance events and end points give each option's expected costs and QALYs.

Decision Tree ModelConceptTree-Based Model, Branch Model

A decision-analytic model built on the decision tree structure, with all possible patient pathways explicitly represented as branches to calculate expected cost.

Decision UncertaintyTermDecision Risk, Probability of Wrong Decision

The probability that the currently preferred option in an evaluation is not actually the truly optimal choice, given uncertainty in the model's parameters.

Decision UtilityTermDecision-Based Utility, Anticipated Utility

The value an individual assigns to an outcome at the moment of choosing it, based on anticipated experience, unlike experienced utility.

DecommissioningTermService Withdrawal, Technology Retirement

The formal process of withdrawing a technology or service from active use, once identified as low-value or superseded by an alternative.

DeductibleTermInsurance Excess, Upfront Payment Threshold

A fixed amount an insured person must pay for covered services before their plan begins to share the cost.

Deductible AmountTermDeductible Value, Set Deductible Sum

The specific sum an insured person must pay out of pocket for covered services before their plan begins contributing.

Deductible CarryoverTermDeductible Roll-Over, Carryover Provision

A provision letting amounts already paid toward a deductible late in one plan year also count toward the following year's deductible.

Deemed StatusTermDeemed Compliance, Accreditation Deeming

A regulatory designation where an accredited facility is automatically considered to have met government conditions of participation, without a separate survey.

Deep Learning HealthTermDeep Learning, Neural Network Health

An artificial intelligence subset using multi-layered neural networks to identify complex patterns within large datasets, applied to imaging and predictive modelling.

Deep Molecular ResponseTermDMR, Deep Molecular Remission

A response criterion in chronic myeloid leukaemia indicating an even greater reduction in detectable disease-associated genetic material than a major molecular response.

Deep ResponseTermDeep Remission, Substantial Response

A general term for a substantial reduction in detectable disease burden, deeper than a standard partial or complete response by less sensitive testing.

Deep Vein ThrombosisTermDVT, Venous Clot

A condition in which a blood clot forms within a deep vein, usually the leg, risking travel to the lungs as a pulmonary embolism.

Default EffectTermDefault Effect, Default Bias

The tendency to retain a pre-set option rather than actively choosing an alternative, even when switching costs little.

Default InterventionTermDefault Option Policy, Opt-Out Default

A policy tool establishing a pre-selected option that applies automatically unless an individual opts out.

Defibrillator EconomicsTermICD Economics, ICD Cost-Effectiveness

The application of health economic evaluation to implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, weighing device and implant cost against preventing sudden cardiac death.

DeficitTermFiscal Shortfall, Spending Shortfall

A shortfall occurring when spending exceeds available revenue within a budget period, requiring borrowing, reserve depletion, or subsequent cuts.

Deficit ReductionTermDeficit Cutting, Fiscal Consolidation

Policies aimed at closing the gap between spending and revenue within a budget, through increased revenue, reduced spending, or both.

Delayed CareTermCare Delay, Postponed Care

A coping strategy in which a household postpones seeking needed healthcare due to cost concerns, risking a worsening condition.

Delayed OutcomeTermLagged Outcome, Deferred Outcome

A clinical or economic outcome that manifests only after a substantial period following treatment, such as a late-occurring side effect.

Deliberative ProcessTermDeliberation, Reasoned Deliberation

A structured process of reasoned discussion of evidence and perspectives, used to reach well-justified decisions amid uncertainty or competing values.

Delirium EconomicsTermDelirium Cost-Effectiveness, Acute Confusion Economics

The application of health economic evaluation to delirium, an acute confusion state common among hospitalised older adults, linked to complications and cognitive decline.

Delphi MethodTermDelphi Technique, Delphi Panel

A structured process eliciting expert judgement through multiple anonymous rounds interspersed with controlled feedback, converging toward a more reliable collective estimate.

Delta AdjustmentTermDelta Sensitivity Analysis, Delta Imputation

A sensitivity analysis technique shifting the assumed outcome for patients with missing trial data by a specified amount to test conclusions' robustness.

Delta MethodConceptDelta Approximation, Taylor-Series Variance

The delta method approximates the variance of a smooth function of estimated parameters by propagating their covariance through the function’s local derivatives.

DemandConceptQuantity Demanded, Purchase Willingness

Demand is the schedule of quantities of a good or service, such as health care, that people are willing and able to buy at each price over a given period.

Demand CurveConceptDemand Schedule, Price-Quantity Curve

A demand curve shows how much of a good or service, such as health care, is demanded at each price, other factors held fixed. It usually slopes downward.

Demand for HealthConceptHealth Demand, Grossman Demand

Demand for health is the idea, from the Grossman model, that people value health as a capital stock, so their demand for healthcare is derived from it.

Demand ForecastingConceptUtilisation Forecasting, Service-Demand Projection

Demand forecasting projects future use of health services and medicines, and the staff needed, from past utilisation, population change and other drivers.

Demand InducementTermInduced Demand, Physician-Induced Demand

The phenomenon in which physicians, using their informational advantage, influence patient demand for care beyond what a fully informed patient would choose.

Demand ManagementTermDemand-Side Management, Utilisation Control

Strategies used to influence and manage the level and timing of healthcare service utilisation, such as triage and appointment scheduling.

Demand PriceTermMarginal Willingness to Pay, Maximum Buyer Price

The maximum price consumers are willing to pay for a given quantity of a good, represented along a standard demand curve.

Demand-Side ControlTermPatient-Side Cost Control, Demand-Side Measure

Cost containment strategies targeting patient-side incentives, such as cost-sharing, to influence utilisation, unlike supply-side controls targeting provider behaviour.

Dementia Care EconomicsTermDementia LTC Economics, Memory Care Economics

The application of health economic evaluation to long-term care for dementia, covering home support, day care, and residential memory care.

Dementia EconomicsTermDementia Cost-Effectiveness, Dementia HTA

The broad application of health economic evaluation to dementia, covering diagnosis, disease-modifying and symptomatic treatment, and long-term care.

Demographic AdjustmentTermAge-Sex Adjustment, Demographic Risk Adjustment

A risk adjustment method predicting expected costs based on basic characteristics, such as age and sex, without detailed clinical diagnosis information.

Dengue EconomicsTermDengue Cost-Effectiveness, Dengue Fever Economics

The application of health economic evaluation to dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral infection endemic to many tropical and subtropical regions.

Denial ManagementTermDenials Management, Claims Denial Handling

The processes an organisation uses to identify, appeal, and prevent insurance claim denials, minimising revenue loss and administrative burden.

Dental Care CoverageTermDental Coverage, Oral Health Coverage

A measure of the proportion of a population with access to needed dental and oral healthcare services.

Department BudgetTermDepartmental Budget, Unit Budget

A budget allocated to an individual department within a larger organisation, covering the costs specific to that unit's operations.

Departure ProcessConceptExit Process, Simulation Exit

The pattern by which entities, such as patients, leave a discrete event simulation after completing the services or processes being modelled.

DependencyTermCare Reliance, Functional Dependence

A state in which a person needs assistance from others to perform daily activities due to physical or cognitive limitations.

Dependent CensoringConceptInformative Censoring, Non-Ignorable Censoring

Dependent censoring occurs when the chance of being censored is linked to a patient's risk of the event, so standard survival estimates can be biased.

Dependent CoverageTermFamily Coverage, Dependant Cover

Health insurance coverage extended to an eligible family member, such as a spouse or child, under a primary policyholder's plan.

DeprescribingTermMedication Withdrawal, Planned Dose Reduction

The planned, supervised process of reducing or stopping a medication no longer beneficial or causing harm, managing polypharmacy and related risk.

Depression BurdenTermDepression Disease Burden, Cost of Depression

The total impact of depression on individuals and society, covering treatment costs, lost productivity, and reduced quality of life.