Cost-Benefit Analysis (also known as Analysis, Cost-Benefit, Cost-Benefit Analyses): A method of comparing the cost of a program with its expected benefits in dollars (or other currency). The benefit-to-cost ratio is a measure of total return expected per unit of money spent. This analysis generally excludes considerat

NIH MeSH · D003362Health Care

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Also known asAnalysis, Cost-Benefit · Cost-Benefit Analyses · Cost Benefit Analysis · Analyses, Cost Benefit · Analysis, Cost Benefit · Cost Benefit Analyses · Cost Benefit · Cost and Benefit · Benefit and Cost · Benefits and Costs · Costs and Benefits · Cost-Benefit Data

Definition

A method of comparing the cost of a program with its expected benefits in dollars (or other currency). The benefit-to-cost ratio is a measure of total return expected per unit of money spent. This analysis generally excludes consideration of factors that are not measured ultimately in economic terms. In contrast a cost effectiveness in general compares cost with qualitative outcomes.

MeSH classification

  • N03.219.151.125

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Related concepts

Capital Expenditures

Those funds disbursed for facilities and equipment, particularly those related to the delivery of health care.

Cost Allocation

The assignment, to each of several particular cost-centers, of an equitable proportion of the costs of activities that serve all of them. Co…

Cost Control

The containment, regulation, or restraint of costs. Costs are said to be contained when the value of resources committed to an activity is n…

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

A method of comparing the cost of a program with its expected outcomes that are qualitative in nature. Cost effectiveness compares alternati…

Cost of Illness

The personal cost of disease which may be economic, social, or psychological. The cost of illness may be reflected in absenteeism, productiv…

Cost Savings

Reductions in all or any portion of the costs of providing goods or services. Savings may be incurred by the provider or the consumer.

Cost Sharing

Provisions of an insurance policy that require the insured to pay some portion of covered expenses. Several forms of sharing are in use, e.g…

Costs and Cost Analysis

Absolute, comparative, or differential costs pertaining to services, institutions, resources, etc., or the analysis and study of these costs…

Common questions about Cost-Benefit Analysis

What does Cost-Benefit Analysis mean in medicine?
A method of comparing the cost of a program with its expected benefits in dollars (or other currency). The benefit-to-cost ratio is a measure of total return expected per unit of money spent. This analysis generally excludes consideration of factors that are not measured ultimately in economic terms. In contrast a cost effectiveness in general compares cost with qualitative outcomes. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Cost-Benefit Analysis known by any other names?
Yes. Cost-Benefit Analysis is also referred to as Analysis, Cost-Benefit, Cost-Benefit Analyses, Cost Benefit Analysis, Analyses, Cost Benefit in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Cost-Benefit Analysis sit in the medical classification?
Cost-Benefit Analysis falls under the broader medical category "Health Care" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: N03.219.151.125). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Cost-Benefit Analysis?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D003362) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗