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.
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- Long-Term Acute Care HospitalTermLTACH, Long-Stay Acute Hospital
- A specialist hospital providing extended-duration, intensive medical care for patients needing longer recovery than a standard acute stay allows.
- Long-Term CareTermLTC, Continuing Care
- Ongoing support and personal care for people with chronic illness, disability, or age-related functional decline, spanning home and residential settings.
- Long-Term Care CostTermLTC Cost, Continuing Care Expense
- The expense of ongoing support services for people with chronic illness, disability, or age-related decline, spanning home-based and residential settings.
- Long-Term Care EconomicsConceptLTC Economics, Aged Care Economics
- The study of resources, financing, incentives and outcomes involved in sustained formal and unpaid support for people with ongoing care needs.
- Long-Term OutcomeTermLong-Term Result, Extended-Horizon Outcome
- A clinical or economic outcome observed or projected over an extended time horizon, often beyond a trial's observed follow-up period.
- Longitudinal DataTermRepeated-Measures Data, Follow-Up Data
- Data collected on the same individuals repeatedly over time, allowing observation of change and the timing between exposures and outcomes.
- Longitudinal DesignConceptLongitudinal Study Design, Follow-Up Design
- A longitudinal design observes the same individuals or other study units at multiple time points to characterize within-unit change, temporal sequence, and differences in trajectories over time.
- Longitudinal MethodsTermLongitudinal Analysis, Panel Methods
- Statistical techniques designed to analyse data collected repeatedly on the same individuals over time, accounting for correlation among repeated measurements.
- Lorenz CurveConceptLorenz Diagram
- A graph plotting the cumulative share of total income against the cumulative share of population, ranked poorest to richest, showing distribution.
- Loss Aversion ConceptTermLoss Aversion, Asymmetric Value Perception
- The principle that losses are weighted more heavily in decision-making than equivalent gains, a core part of prospect theory.
- Loss of ResponseTermSecondary Non-Response, Treatment Escape, Secondary Failure, Acquired Failure, Late Failure
- A clinical outcome indicating a patient who previously achieved a favourable response later experiences a return of disease activity or decline in response.
- Loss to Follow-UpConceptLost to Follow-Up
- Loss to follow-up occurs when trial participants stop providing data before follow-up ends, so later outcomes, costs and QALYs can be missing.
- Low Performer IdentificationTermUnderperformer Detection, Low-Outlier Flagging
- The process of systematically identifying providers whose performance falls notably below relevant benchmarks, to prioritise targeted improvement support.
- Low-Income CountryTermLIC, Low-Income Economy
- A country classified by gross national income per capita as falling within the lowest tier of an international income classification system.
- Low-Income SubsidyTermExtra Help Subsidy, Part D Low-Income Assistance
- Financial assistance reducing the cost of health insurance or healthcare specifically for individuals or households with limited resources.
- Low-Quality EvidenceTermLow-Certainty Evidence, Weak Evidence
- Within GRADE, a rating indicating limited confidence that the true effect matches the reported estimate, typically from observational or flawed studies.
- Low-Value CareTermLow-Value Service, Wasteful Care
- Healthcare services providing little or no clinical benefit relative to cost, or carrying harm risk exceeding likely benefit.
- Lung Cancer ScreeningTermLDCT Screening, Pulmonary Cancer Screening
- A public health strategy using low-dose CT imaging to detect lung cancer in individuals with a significant smoking history, at an earlier stage.