Dictionary
The Dictionary provides concise definitions of health economics terms, arranged alphabetically for quick reference. Use it to understand unfamiliar terminology or confirm the meaning of a specific term.
S
- Scoring AlgorithmScoring Function, Value Algorithm
- The specific formula, derived from a population valuation study, used to convert health status questionnaire responses into a single utility value.
- Semi-Variable CostMixed Cost, Semi-Variable Expense
- A cost containing both a fixed and a variable component, such as a utility bill with a base charge plus a per-unit fee.
- SF-36Short Form 36, RAND-36
- A widely used generic health status questionnaire measuring functioning and wellbeing across eight domains, producing a profile rather than a single utility score.
- SF-6DShort Form Six Dimension, SF6D Index
- A preference-based utility measure derived from a subset of SF-36 or SF-12 items, combined using a scoring algorithm into a single utility index.
- State RewardState Value, State Payoff
- A cost, utility, health outcome, or other consequence accrued while a modelled person occupies a specified state for a defined amount of time.
- Stopping RuleTrial Stopping Criterion, Termination Rule
- A predefined statistical criterion set before a trial begins specifying the conditions under which it should stop early, for efficacy, futility, or safety.
T
- TariffSet Fee Schedule, Administered Price
- The specific set of utility weights, derived from a population valuation study, used to convert health status instrument responses into a single score.
- Time DependencyTime-Dependence, Temporal Dependence
- The property of a risk, effect, cost, utility or other model input changing according to a specified time scale, such as attained age or time since an event.
U
- Utilitarian WelfareUtilitarianism, Sum-Ranking Welfare
- A conception of social welfare judging policies by the sum, or average, of individual utility across the population, regardless of distribution.