One way I try to distinguish between them:
* Efficacy - the treatment has a measurable effect - i.e. trialled against placebo.
* Effectiveness - the treatment has a "better" effect - i.e. trialled against current standard treatment in comparison study. More likely to be tested on patients with the condition, as placebio may be ethically & clinically unacceptable.
Both are RCTs, but a key distinction lies in the nature of the control (and perhaps the outcome measure). Effectiveness implies more useful in real world setting, whilst efficacy is only good in itself, i.e. the statin does reduce cholesterol (is efficaceous), but effectiveness would say it reduces it *better* than other statins/treatments ('better' might mean bigger effect, or same but cheaper, same but safer etc etc).
Kind regards,
Mark.
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Kent & Canterbury Hospital
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>>> Laura Harris <[log in to unmask]> 24/04/2012 16:47 >>>
Hi All,
I know this is probably a very silly question (and I feel foolish for asking it) but I am wrong in thinking that RCTs (generally) do not measure the effectiveness of a treatment but the efficacy? If I am wrong can someone explain to me what is it about an RCT that separates it from an efficacy study?
Many thanks,
Laura
Laura Harris
PhD Student
School of Social Sciences & Social Work
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
University of Plymouth, Rm 301 Hepworth House, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA
t: +44 (0) 1752 586980 Email: [log in to unmask]
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