Table 2.

Definitions of terms

Terms	Description
CEA	Cost-effectiveness analysis: Achieving more of the outcome for the same cost or achieving the same outcome for less cost, expressed in incremental benefits on Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY), or incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER)
CUA	Cost-utility analysis: Similar to CEA but for multiple outcome measures in quality-of-life units (QoL)
CBA	Cost–benefit analysis: Financial expression of costs and benefits from a programme in a cost–benefit ratio (CBR) CBA is the basis for ROI and SROI; CBA and SROI are societal perspectives, ROI is managerial/investor focused
ROI	Return on Investment: Expression of costs and benefits from a programme expressed in an ROI metric
SROI	Social Return on Investment: Expression of costs and benefits from a programme expressed in a ROI metric Includes benefits for society, environment, and others. Engages various stakeholders in the calculation process
CCA	Cost consequence analysis: comparing alternative interventions or programs in which the components of incremental costs and consequences without aggregating these results Economic terms sources: [17, 60–63]
Value Value for money	Any outcome seen to be of importance, utility, or usefulness. [64] Obtaining the most useful (utility), most effective, and less wasteful (efficient) from your service or purchase [60]
Benefit	Any outcome that produces useful, helpful, or advantageous outcomes [65]
Outcome	A result or consequence of an action or process [66]
QI methods	Methods used to improve organisational processes and behaviours e.g., PDSA, Lean, Six-Sigma, Lean-Six Sigma, Audit & Feedback. [67–69]
Healthcare organisation (UK)	A unique framework of authority within which a person or persons act or are designated to act towards some purpose as a direct provider of healthcare services (preventative, curative, rehabilitative, or palliative). Includes Local Authorities with Social care working in cooperation with the NHS [70]