Lead time
Lead Time
Lead time (pronounced: /liːd taɪm/) is a term commonly used in various industries, including healthcare and medicine, to denote the time interval between the initiation and completion of a process.
Etymology
The term "lead time" originates from the manufacturing industry, where it refers to the time taken from the start of a production process until its completion. In the medical field, it has been adapted to refer to the time taken from the detection of a disease or condition until its treatment or resolution.
Definition
In the context of medicine, lead time refers to the period between the early detection of a disease, often through screening tests, and the usual time of its diagnosis. This is a critical period as it can impact the prognosis and treatment plan of the disease.
Related Terms
- Lead time bias: This is a type of bias that can occur in observational studies, particularly in the evaluation of screening tests. It refers to the time period between the early detection of a disease and the point at which it would have been clinically diagnosed without screening. This can give a false impression of prolonged survival time, even if the early detection did not actually affect the course of the disease.
- Lag time: This is another related term that refers to the time interval between the actual occurrence of an event and its detection. In medicine, it often refers to the time between the onset of a disease and its diagnosis.
- Screening: This is a strategy used in a population to detect a disease in individuals without signs or symptoms of that disease.
- Prognosis: This is a term for the predicted course and outcome of a disease. The prognosis of a disease is generally considered as a statistical concept, not a prediction for the individual patient.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lead time
- Wikipedia's article - Lead time
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