A commodity or condition capable of reducing or eliminating a drive or goal. It is an extrinsic motivational device and may take the form of reward or punishment.
A reward for desired behavior. In health care, this term is used in regard to rewards to institutions and individuals for decreasing hospital and physician costs, and for encouraging patients to be frugal in demands for health care.
Any stimulus that encourages a desired response. Incentives may be provided to patients (e.g., to ensure adherence to treatment plans), to practitioners (e.g., to improve productivity or job performance), or to students (e.g., to improve grades).