Which statement about health equity in the EtD framework is true?

• A. It disregards patient values
• B. It focuses solely on cost
• C. It explicitly considers how benefits/harms vary by population
• D. It assumes equity is uniformly distributed

Answer: (C)

Health equity in the EtD framework centers on whether the benefits and harms of an intervention vary across different populations and whether implementing it would affect disparities. This means the framework asks who gains or is harmed, and whether the intervention could reduce or widen inequities. It’s not about ignoring patient values, nor about focusing only on costs; the EtD considers multiple factors, including equity, values, costs, feasibility, and acceptability. It also does not assume that equity is the same for everyone—differences between groups are explicitly examined. Therefore, the statement that benefits and harms vary by population is the best answer.