Dictionary

E

Evidence BaseTermResearch Evidence Corpus, Body of Findings

The complete collection of research findings relevant to a particular question, upon which conclusions and recommendations are built.

Evidence GapTermResearch Gap, Missing-Evidence Area

An area of clinical or health economic uncertainty where insufficient or absent research evidence exists to confidently answer a relevant question.

Evidence Generation PlanTermEvidence Development Plan, Post-Approval Evidence Plan

A prospectively developed strategy outlining what further clinical or real-world evidence will be collected after a technology's initial approval or reimbursement.

Evidence GradingTermEvidence Quality Grading, Certainty Grading, Evidence Rating

The formal process of classifying the quality or certainty of a body of research evidence into defined categories, such as high or low.

Evidence ImplementationTermEvidence Uptake, Research-into-Practice Translation

The systematic process of translating research findings into actual routine practice, addressing the gap between what works and what is done.

Evidence ReviewTermAssessment-Question Review, Research Evidence Appraisal

A systematic evaluation of available research evidence relevant to a specific assessment question, following established systematic review methodology.

Evidence Review GroupTermERG, Independent Review Team, Academic HTA Group, Academic Assessment Group, University HTA Team

An independent academic team commissioned to critically evaluate a manufacturer's submitted evidence, informing the appraisal committee's deliberations.

Evidence SourceTermData Origin, Evidence Origin

The specific origin of data or findings used to inform a health economic model, from clinical trials to published literature.

Evidence SynthesisConceptEvidence Combination, Research Synthesis

The structured integration and appraisal of findings from multiple studies to answer a defined question while accounting for comparability, bias and uncertainty.

Evidence Synthesis HTATermHTA Evidence Synthesis, Assessment Data Synthesis

The process of systematically combining findings from multiple studies into a coherent summary, supporting both effectiveness conclusions and model parameters.

Evidence TableConcept

An evidence table is a structured table setting out the design, participants, interventions, outcomes, results and quality of each study in a review.

Evidence UpdateTermAssessment Update, Guideline Refresh

A revision to a previously completed assessment or guideline incorporating newly available evidence that has emerged since it was conducted.

Evidence-Based Decision MakingConceptEvidence-Informed Decision Making

Evidence-based decision making is the systematic use of the best research evidence, with values and context, to make health policy and coverage decisions.

Evidence-Based MedicineTermEBM, Evidence-Based Practice, Evidence-Based Health Care, Evidence-Based Healthcare

An approach to clinical practice emphasising conscientious, explicit use of current best research evidence, integrated with clinical expertise and patient values.

Ex Ante Moral HazardTermPre-Loss Moral Hazard, Preventive Moral Hazard

A change in behaviour occurring before a loss event because of insurance coverage, such as reduced investment in preventive health behaviours.

Ex Post Moral HazardTermPost-Loss Moral Hazard, Utilisation Moral Hazard

An increase in healthcare utilisation occurring after an insured event because insurance reduces the marginal price the patient faces for care.

Ex-Ante EvaluationTermBefore-Implementation Evaluation, Forward-Looking Evaluation

An economic evaluation conducted before an intervention has been implemented, typically relying on modelled projections rather than observed outcome data.

Ex-Post EvaluationTermAfter-Implementation Evaluation, Outcome-Based Evaluation

An economic evaluation conducted after an intervention has been implemented, using observed data on its actual costs and outcomes.

Exceptional FundingTermExceptional Case Funding, Individual Exception Funding

A mechanism allowing an individual patient to receive funding for a treatment not otherwise covered, when their circumstances are genuinely exceptional.

Excess DaysTermExcess Bed Days, Additional Inpatient Days

The number of hospital days a patient spends beyond what would typically be expected for their diagnosis, an inefficiency indicator.

Excess HazardTermDisease-Specific Hazard, Net Hazard

The additional death risk attributable specifically to the disease studied, the difference between total observed hazard and the background hazard in a comparable population.

Excess MortalityTermExcess Deaths, Attributable Mortality

The additional death risk attributable to a specific condition, the difference between an affected population's observed mortality and that of a comparable unaffected group.

ExchangeTermACA Marketplace, Insurance Plan Marketplace

An organised marketplace, established under insurance regulation such as the Affordable Care Act, where individuals compare and buy health insurance plans.

Exchange RateTermFX Rate, Currency Conversion Rate

The price of one currency expressed in terms of another, used to convert costs or prices between countries.

Exchangeable CorrelationConceptCompound Symmetry, Exchangeable Working Correlation

A correlation structure for repeated measures assuming any two observations within the same cluster are equally correlated, regardless of their timing or order.

ExcludabilityTermExcludable Property, Exclusion Feasibility

A characteristic of a good describing whether it is possible to prevent those who have not paid for it from consuming it.

Exclusion CriteriaTermTrial Exclusion Rules, Disqualifying Characteristics

The specific characteristics that disqualify an otherwise eligible individual from a trial, such as a comorbidity that might confound results.

Exclusion ErrorTermUnder-Targeting, Eligible Non-Reach

A failure of a targeted programme to reach individuals who meet its eligibility criteria and should receive its benefits.

Exclusion ListTermNon-Covered Drug List, Drug Exclusion Roster

A list of medications explicitly not covered under a health plan's formulary, typically due to available clinically equivalent, lower-cost alternatives.

Exemption PolicyTermMandate Exemption Rules, Hardship Exemption Rules

The rules governing circumstances under which an individual is not required to comply with an insurance mandate without facing a penalty.

Expanded AccessTermPre-Approval Access, Investigational Access Pathway

A regulatory pathway, sometimes called compassionate use, letting patients with a serious condition receive an investigational treatment outside a trial.

Expanded Disability Status ScaleConceptEDSS, Kurtzke EDSS

Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is a clinician-rated 0 to 10 scale of multiple sclerosis disability, often used to set health states in MS models.

Expansion PathTermCost-Minimising Path, Optimal Input Trajectory

The set of cost-minimising input combinations as output rises, holding relative input prices constant.

Expected LossTermExpected Opportunity Loss, Probability-Weighted Loss

The probability-weighted average cost of making an incorrect decision under uncertainty, calculated across all possible states and their probabilities.

Expected Net BenefitConceptAverage Net Benefit, ENB

Expected net benefit is the mean net benefit of a healthcare option across parameter uncertainty at a set threshold; the option with the highest is chosen.

Expected Net Benefit of SamplingConceptENBS, Expected Net Gain of Sampling, ENGS

Expected net benefit of sampling (ENBS) is a proposed study's population expected value of sample information minus its expected total cost.

Expected UtilityConceptEU, Utility Under Uncertainty

Expected utility is the probability-weighted average of the utilities assigned to an uncertain option's possible outcomes, used to rank choices under risk when preferences satisfy the required axioms.

Expected ValueConceptMean Outcome, Probability-Weighted Average

Expected value is the probability-weighted mean of an uncertain outcome, such as a cost or QALY total, across all its possible values.

Expected Value AnalysisConceptExpected-Value Decision Making, Mean-Outcome Analysis

Expected value analysis compares health care options under uncertainty by their probability-weighted average outcomes, such as expected costs and QALYs.

Expected Value of Partial Perfect InformationConceptEVPPI, Partial Perfect-Information Value

Expected value of partial perfect information (EVPPI) is the expected gain in net benefit from knowing selected model parameters exactly before deciding.

Expected Value of Perfect InformationConceptEVPI, Perfect-Information Value

Expected value of perfect information (EVPI) is the expected gain from removing all uncertainty in a funding decision, the upper limit on research value.

Expected Value of Sample InformationConceptEVSI, Sample-Information Value

Expected value of sample information (EVSI) is the expected net benefit gained by deciding after a specific proposed study reports instead of deciding now.

Expenditure ControlTermExpenditure Limitation, Spending Restraint

The mechanisms used to monitor and limit healthcare spending within a budget, such as prior authorisation and global budget caps.

Expense BudgetTermRunning-Cost Budget, Operating Expense Plan

A budget covering the routine operating costs of running an organisation, including salaries, supplies, and overheads.

Experience GoodTermPost-Purchase-Assessed Good, Experience Product

A good whose quality can only be judged by the consumer after purchase and use, unlike a search good assessed beforehand.

Experience RatingConceptClaims-Based Rating, Experience-Based Premiums

A method setting premiums based on the actual historical claims experience of a specific individual or group, rather than a community average.

Experienced UtilityTermHedonic Utility, Lived Utility

The actual hedonic experience, such as pleasure or suffering, undergone while in a health state, unlike the decision utility anticipated in advance.

Experimental DesignConceptExperimental Study Design, Design of Experiments

The systematic planning of an empirical study to allow valid causal inference, including decisions about randomisation, control groups, and study conditions.

Expert ConsultationTermExpert Input, Specialist Consultation

The process of seeking input from subject matter experts to inform a research question or fill a gap in the evidence.

Expert ElicitationTermStructured Expert Judgement, Elicitation of Expert Opinion

A structured process for obtaining quantitative judgements from subject matter experts on uncertain quantities when direct empirical data are unavailable.