Dictionary

F

Finite Mixture ModelConceptFMM, Latent Subgroup Model

A statistical model representing a population as a combination of a finite number of distinct subgroups, each following its own probability distribution.

First Generic EntryTermFirst Generic Launch, Generic Market Entry

The introduction of the first generic competitor after a brand-name drug's patent and exclusivity expire, typically bringing a substantial initial price cut.

First-in-ClassTermNovel Mechanism Drug, Pioneer Drug

A designation for a treatment introducing an entirely novel mechanism of action not previously available for a given condition.

First-Line TreatmentTermFirst-Line Therapy, Initial Therapy

The treatment recommended as the initial therapy for a condition, typically selected on the strongest available evidence of efficacy and safety.

First-Order IndexConceptFirst-Order Sobol Index, Sobol First-Order Index, Main-Effect Sensitivity Index, First-Order Sensitivity Index, S1

A first-order index in variance-based sensitivity analysis is the fraction of model-output variance explained by changes in the conditional mean when one uncertain input varies on its own under the specified input distribution.

First-Order UncertaintyTermStochastic Uncertainty, Individual-Level Variability, Variability Analysis, Variability Assessment, Variability Decomposition

Uncertainty arising from variation among individual patients within a modelled population, unlike parameter uncertainty concerning imperfect knowledge of a true average value.

Fiscal SpaceTermBudgetary Headroom, Fiscal Headroom

The budgetary room available to a government to increase spending on a priority, such as healthcare, without jeopardising overall fiscal stability.

Fiscal SustainabilityTermBudgetary Sustainability, Long-Run Fiscal Viability

The capacity of a health system's financing arrangements to be maintained long term without unsustainable debt or disruptive future cuts.

Fishbone AnalysisTermIshikawa Analysis, Cause-and-Effect Analysis

The process of applying a cause and effect diagram to systematically identify and organise potential root causes of a quality problem.

Five Whys AnalysisTerm5 Whys, Iterative Why Technique

A simple, iterative root cause technique repeatedly asking why, typically five times, to drill down from a problem to its fundamental cause.

Fixed BudgetTermStatic Budget, Fixed Allocation

A budget set at a specific level regardless of changes in activity or service volume during the period.

Fixed CostTermFixed Expense, Non-Variable Cost

A cost that does not vary with the level of output or service volume in the short run, such as rent.

Fixed Effect ModelConceptCommon-Effect Model, Fixed-Effect Meta-Analysis, Fixed Effect Synthesis, Common-True-Effect Synthesis, Inverse-Variance Fixed Synthesis

A meta-analysis model assuming all included studies estimate the same true effect, with observed variation attributed entirely to sampling error.

Fixed EffectsConceptFixed-Effects Model, Within Estimator

A panel data modelling approach estimating a separate intercept for each individual or group, controlling for all its time-invariant characteristics.

FLACC ScaleConceptFLACC, Face Legs Activity Cry Consolability Scale

FLACC Scale is an observer-rated pain score for young or non-verbal children, totalling 0 to 10, used as a trial outcome but unable to give QALYs directly.

Fleming-Harrington EstimatorConceptFleming-Harrington Survival Estimator, Weighted Survival Estimator

A statistical technique for estimating the survival function from censored data, more flexible than the Kaplan-Meier estimator in weighting events over time.

Fleming-Harrington TestConceptFleming-Harrington Weighted Test, G-Rho Test

A hypothesis test comparing survival distributions between groups, generalising the log-rank test by allowing different weights for events at different follow-up times.

Flexible BudgetTermVariable Budget, Activity-Adjusted Budget

A budget that adjusts automatically according to actual levels of activity or service volume, rather than staying fixed.

Flexible Parametric ModelConceptSpline-Based Survival Model, Flexible Hazard Model

A flexible parametric model is a fully specified regression model that represents a transformed survival function with smooth functions of time, commonly restricted cubic splines, so complex hazards and time-varying effects can be estimated and extrapolated.

Flexible Pricing SchemeTermFlexible Pricing Arrangement, Adaptive Pricing

A pricing arrangement allowing a treatment's effective price to vary over time or circumstances, such as patient response, rather than staying fixed.

Flexible Spending AccountTermFSA, Pre-Tax Health Account

A US tax-advantaged account letting employees set aside pre-tax income for eligible healthcare expenses, typically subject to a use-it-or-lose-it rule.

Floor EffectTermFloor Limitation, Bottom-End Clustering

A measurement limitation in which many respondents score at or near the worst possible value, leaving an instrument unable to detect further deterioration.

Flow ChartTermFlowchart, Process Flow Diagram

A visual diagram depicting the sequential steps within a process, using standardised symbols for different actions and decision points.

Flow ManagementTermPatient Flow Optimisation, Throughput Coordination

Strategies optimising the movement of patients through a facility from arrival through treatment to discharge, minimising unnecessary delays.

Focus GroupConcept

A focus group is a moderated small-group discussion used in health research and economic evaluation to explore people's views through their interaction.

Folding BackConceptBackward Induction, Rolling Back

Folding back is the backward evaluation of a decision tree that takes probability-weighted values at chance nodes and selects the preferred feasible action at decision nodes under a stated objective.

Follow-Up AppointmentTermFollow-Up Visit, Review Appointment

A scheduled visit after an initial treatment or hospitalisation, intended to monitor recovery and address any emerging concerns.

For-Profit HospitalTermInvestor-Owned Hospital, Proprietary Hospital

A hospital organised as a for-profit business entity, distributing operating surplus to shareholders rather than reinvesting it entirely, unlike a non-profit hospital.

Force Field AnalysisTermForce Field Diagram, Driving-Restraining Analysis

A structured technique analysing a proposed change by identifying forces supporting it and forces resisting it, guiding change strategy.

Force of InfectionConceptInfection Hazard, Infection Rate Parameter

The rate at which susceptible individuals become infected, determined jointly by disease prevalence and the rate and probability of transmission per contact.

Forest PlotTermForest Diagram, Blobbogram

A graphical display presenting each study's estimate and confidence interval alongside a meta-analysis's overall pooled result, typically as horizontal lines and a diamond.

Formative EvaluationTermDevelopmental Evaluation, Improvement-Focused Evaluation

An evaluation conducted during the development or early implementation of a programme, intended to provide feedback for improvement before full rollout.

FormularyConceptPreferred Drug List, Approved Medication List

A list of medications approved for coverage by a health plan or system, often organised into tiers reflecting patient cost-sharing levels.

Formulary DesignTermFormulary Structuring, Tier Design

The process of determining a health plan's covered medication list structure, covering tier placement, prior authorisation, and access balance.

Formulary ManagementTermFormulary Administration, Drug List Management

The ongoing process by which a plan develops, maintains, and updates its covered medication list, covering tier placement and prior authorisation.

Formulary SubmissionTermFormulary Dossier, Formulary Application

A formal manufacturer application presenting clinical and economic evidence supporting a medication's inclusion on a plan's formulary.

FormulationTermDrug Composition, Active-Inactive Blend

The specific combination of a drug's active ingredient with inactive components, designed to achieve a desired dosage form, stability, and release profile.

Formulation DevelopmentTermFormulation Design, Galenic Development

The process of designing and optimising the physical form in which a drug is delivered, such as a tablet or injection, for stability and use.

Fractional PolynomialConceptFP Model, Power-Transformation Model

A flexible modelling technique representing a non-linear relationship using a small number of power transformations of a continuous variable.

Fragmented SystemTermUncoordinated Health System, Siloed System

A health system characterised by poor coordination across its financing, regulatory, and delivery components, often resulting in gaps or duplication.

FrailtyTermPhysiological Vulnerability, Reduced Physiological Reserve

A clinical syndrome of decreased physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes following relatively minor stressors, commonly assessed with standardised criteria.

Frailty ModelConceptRandom-Effect Survival Model, Unobserved Heterogeneity Model

A survival model incorporating an unobserved random effect, called frailty, to represent risk heterogeneity not captured by observed covariates.

Framing ConceptTermFraming Effect, Presentation Bias

The principle that decisions can be swayed by how choices are presented, such as gains versus losses, even when options are equivalent.

Framing InterventionTermLoss-Gain Framing, Message Framing

The deliberate use of framing effects in intervention design, typically presenting information in terms of losses rather than gains, to influence decisions.

Free ClinicTermCharitable Clinic, Volunteer Clinic

A facility providing medical services at no direct cost, typically relying on volunteer clinicians and charitable funding for uninsured populations.

Free GoodsTermFree Stock, Free-of-Charge Units

Units of a treatment provided by a manufacturer at no cost, often used within a managed entry agreement to offset non-responder costs.

Free PricingTermUnregulated Pricing, Free Market Pricing

A pricing environment in which manufacturers set a drug's initial launch price without direct government price controls, largely the case in the US.

Free Rider ProblemTermFree Riding, Collective Action Problem

A situation in which individuals benefit from a shared resource or collective action without contributing to its cost, because exclusion is not feasible.

Free Rider Problem in InsuranceTermInsurance Free Riding, Coverage Free-Riding

The tendency for healthy individuals to skip buying insurance while relying on emergency care or others' willingness to fund risk pools.

Frequentist AnalysisConceptFrequentist Inference, Classical Statistics

A statistical inference approach based on the long-run frequency properties of estimators, calculated from observed data alone, unlike a Bayesian approach.