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Abbreviations, glossary and references
Conjugated bilirubin A term used to describe the form of bilirubin which has been
processed by the liver. This is otherwise described as direct bilirubin.
Conjugated bilirubin is released into the bile by the liver and stored
in the gallbladder, or transferred directly to the small intestines.
Bilirubin is further broken down by bacteria in the intestines, and
those breakdown products contribute to the colour of the faeces.
Conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia A term used when large amounts of conjugated bilirubin appear in
the bloodstream.
Consensus statement A statement of the advised course of action in relation to a particular
clinical topic, based on the collective views of a body of experts.
Control group A group of patients recruited into a study that receives no treatment, a
treatment of known effect, or a placebo (dummy treatment) - in order
to provide a comparison for a group receiving an experimental
treatment, such as a new drug.
Controlled clinical trial (CCT) A study testing a specific drug or other treatment involving two (or
more) groups of patients with the same disease. One (the
experimental group) receives the treatment that is being tested, and
the other (the comparison or control group) receives an alternative
treatment, a placebo (dummy treatment) or no treatment. The two
groups are followed up to compare differences in outcomes to see
how effective the experimental treatment was. A CCT where patients
are randomly allocated to treatment and comparison groups is called
a randomised controlled trial.
Conventional phototherapy Phototherapy given using a single light source (not fibreoptic) that is
positioned above the baby
Coombs’ test See Direct Antibody Test (DAT)
Cost benefit analysis A type of economic evaluation where both costs and benefits of
healthcare treatment are measured in the same monetary units. If
benefits exceed costs, the evaluation would recommend providing
the treatment.
Cost-minimisation analysis A form of cost-effectiveness analysis where the treatment alternatives
are considered to be equally effective. Where treatments are equally
effective the least costly is the most cost-effective
Cost-effectiveness Value for money. A specific healthcare treatment is said to be ‘cost-
effective’ if it gives a greater health gain than could be achieved by
using the resources in other ways.
Cost-effectiveness analysis A type of economic evaluation comparing the costs and the effects on
health of different treatments. Health effects are measured in ‘health-
related units’, for example, the cost of preventing one additional heart
attack.
Cross-sectional study The observation of a defined set of people at a single point in time or
time period – a snapshot. (This type of study contrasts with a
longitudinal study which follows a set of people over a period of
time.)
Data set A list of required information relating to a specific disease.
Decision analysis Decision analysis is the study of how people make decisions or how
they should make decisions. There are several methods that decision
analysts use to help people to make better decisions, including
decision trees.
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