Efficacy and Effectiveness

Efficacy and effectiveness are two important concepts often used in research, particularly in healthcare. Efficacy refers to how well a treatment or intervention works under ideal conditions, such as clinical trials where variables are controlled. Effectiveness, on the other hand, measures how well the same treatment performs in real-world settings, where conditions may be less controlled and vary among individuals. In essence, efficacy is about "can it work?" while effectiveness focuses on "does it work in practice?" Understanding both helps determine the real-world value of medical treatments and interventions.