Dictionary

F

Frequentist Meta-AnalysisConceptClassical Meta-Analysis, Frequentist Evidence Synthesis

An approach combining evidence using classical frequentist methods, producing a point estimate and confidence interval without formally incorporating prior beliefs.

Friction Cost MethodConceptFriction Cost Approach, FCM

A productivity loss valuation approach estimating only the cost of the finite period needed to restore normal production, generally lower than human capital estimates.

Full ApprovalTermStandard Approval, Traditional Approval

Standard market authorisation granted based on a well-established, definitive clinical benefit endpoint, unlike accelerated approval, which relies on a surrogate.

Full AssessmentTermComprehensive HTA, Full HTA Review

A comprehensive assessment process involving detailed evaluation of clinical and cost-effectiveness, unlike an abbreviated or rapid review process.

Full CapitationTermGlobal Capitation, Comprehensive Capitation, Global Payment, Comprehensive Payment, Total Cost of Care Payment

A capitation arrangement in which a provider assumes complete financial risk for essentially all a patient's healthcare costs, unlike partial capitation.

Full CodeTermFull Resuscitation Status, Attempt-CPR Status

A designation indicating a patient should receive all available resuscitative measures, including CPR, the default status absent a documented preference.

Full Economic EvaluationConceptComplete Economic Evaluation, Comparative Economic Evaluation

An economic evaluation comparing two or more alternatives in terms of both costs and consequences, unlike a partial evaluation examining costs or outcomes alone.

Full Immunisation CoverageTermComplete Vaccination Coverage, Full Vaccination Rate

A measure of the proportion of a target population who have received the complete recommended vaccination series according to a national schedule.

Full Societal PerspectiveTermComplete Societal Perspective, Broad Societal Perspective

An analytic viewpoint including all costs and consequences regardless of who bears them, spanning healthcare, patient and carer time, and productivity losses.

Fully Incremental AnalysisConceptFull Incremental Analysis, Sequential ICER Analysis

Fully incremental analysis compares all mutually exclusive strategies in an ordered sequence to identify the cost-effectiveness frontier.

Fully Insured PlanTermFully-Insured Arrangement, Insured Plan

An arrangement where an employer purchases coverage from an insurer that assumes the financial risk for claims, unlike a self-insured plan.

Function TransferTermBenefit-Function Approach, Value Surface Transfer

A form of benefit transfer in which an entire estimated value function, rather than a single point value, is applied to a new context.

Functional DeclineTermFunctional Deterioration, Decline in Function

A reduction in ability to perform daily activities independently, often linked to ageing, chronic disease progression, or an acute health event.

Functional IndependenceTermIndependent Functioning, Self-Care Capacity

An individual's capacity to perform daily activities without assistance from others, commonly assessed using standardised functional status instruments.

Functional OutcomeTermFunctional Result, Function Outcome Measure

A general term for any measure of a patient's ability to perform physical, cognitive, or social activities, distinct from purely clinical measures.

Functional StatusTermFunctional Ability, Functional Health

A measure of an individual's ability to perform physical, cognitive, and social activities relevant to independent living.

Funnel PlotTermFunnel Diagram, Precision-Effect Plot

A scatter plot assessing potential publication bias by plotting each study's effect estimate against its precision, expecting symmetry if unbiased.

Funnel Plot AnalysisTermFunnel Plot Assessment, Asymmetry Analysis

The formal examination of a funnel plot's symmetry, often with a statistical test such as Egger's, to assess likely publication bias.

Futile CareTermNon-Beneficial Treatment, Futility of Care, Medical Futility, Clinical Futility, Treatment Futility

Medical treatment judged unlikely to produce meaningful clinical benefit despite continuing to be administered, raising ethical and resource concerns.

Futility AnalysisConceptFutility Stopping Analysis, Interim Futility Check

A futility analysis assesses interim trial evidence against a prespecified rule to judge whether continuing is sufficiently likely to meet the study's final objective.

Future CostTermDownstream Cost, Future Healthcare Cost, Future Health Care Cost

Healthcare costs a patient is expected to incur in years added to their life from a successful intervention, a debated inclusion in analysis.

Future ValueTermCompounded Value, FV

The value a present sum of money will grow to after a specified period, given a particular rate of return.