Which term describes a retrospective analysis of a patient’s status over time?

The term that best describes a retrospective analysis of a patient's status over time is "assessment." An assessment involves evaluating and analyzing various aspects of a patient's condition or progress, often by reviewing their medical history, symptoms, and treatment outcomes over a specified period. This process allows healthcare providers to understand changes in the patient's health status and make informed decisions regarding future care.

In contrast, incidence refers to the occurrence of new cases of a disease within a specified population and time frame, focusing on new events rather than an individual’s history. Prevalence measures how widespread a condition is in a population at a specific point in time, again not taking an historical analysis approach. Diagnosis is the process of identifying a disease or condition based on symptoms and tests rather than assessing the patient over time. Thus, the appropriate term for a retrospective analysis of a patient's status over time is assessment, as it captures the comprehensive review of changes and overall well-being of the patient throughout their treatment journey.