In USPSTF terminology, 'net benefit' equals:

• A. Benefits minus harms for the target population.
• B. The cost-effectiveness ratio.
• C. Harms minus benefits.
• D. Cost minus implementation burden.

Answer: (B)

Net benefit in USPSTF work is the balance of benefits and harms for the target population, incorporating weighting that reflects how much benefit is valued at a given threshold. In other words, it represents benefits minus harms for the population, with the relative importance of benefits and harms adjusted by the threshold probability used in decision analysis. It is not the cost-effectiveness ratio, nor simply harms minus benefits, nor cost minus implementation burden. This weighting makes net benefit a distinct, population-focused metric used to judge whether an intervention's benefits outweigh its harms.