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.
C
- Category RatingCategory Scaling, Categorical Rating Scale
- A health state valuation method in which respondents assign states to a fixed number of ordered categories, or rate them on a numerical scale.
- Choice-Based MethodChoice-Based Valuation, Preference Elicitation Choice
- A health state valuation technique in which respondents choose between alternative states or gambles, such as the standard gamble or time trade-off.
- Constant Sum AllocationFixed-Total Allocation, Points Distribution Method
- A health state valuation method in which respondents distribute a fixed total, often one hundred points, across health states by relative desirability.
D
- Direct ElicitationDirect Valuation, First-Hand State Valuation, Direct Utility Assessment
- A health state valuation approach in which respondents value a state directly, using techniques such as the standard gamble or time trade-off.
H
- Health State ValuationState Valuation, Utility Elicitation
- Health state valuation is the elicitation and modelling of preferences for defined states of health to assign scores on a scale anchored by dead and full health for use in economic evaluation and related decisions.
I
- Indirect Elicitation
- A health state valuation approach in which a descriptive questionnaire's responses are converted into a utility value using a pre-existing scoring algorithm.
M
- Matching MethodMatching Technique, Value Matching
- A health state valuation technique in which respondents adjust one attribute of an outcome until two alternatives seem equally preferable.
P
- Paired ComparisonPaired Preference, Pick-One-of-Two
- A health state valuation method in which respondents are shown two states at a time and indicate which they prefer, building up a ranking.
- Point Allocation MethodPoint Allocation, Constant Sum Method
- A health state valuation technique in which respondents distribute a fixed number of points across several health states to reflect relative preferences.
R
- Ranking MethodRank Ordering Method, Ordinal Ranking
- A health state valuation technique in which respondents order health states from most to least preferred, without indicating the size of preference differences.
- Rating MethodRating Scale Valuation, Category Rating Technique
- A health state valuation technique in which respondents assign a numerical score to a health state on a defined scale, such as a visual analogue scale.
T
- Time Trade-OffTTO, Life-Year Trade-Off
- A health state valuation method asking how many years in full health a respondent would consider equal to a longer period in an impaired state.
V
- Valuation ProtocolValuation Procedure, Elicitation Protocol
- The specific procedures, including instructions, health state descriptions, and elicitation technique, followed when conducting a health state valuation study.
- Valuation Study DesignValuation Design, Preference Study Design
- The overall methodological plan for a health state valuation exercise, including sample selection, elicitation technique, and the health states to be valued.
- Visual Analogue ScaleVAS, Visual Analog Scale
- A health state valuation method in which respondents mark a perceived health state on a continuous line anchored between worst and best imaginable health.