In clinical trials, efficacy versus effectiveness language is confusing

Published on June 10, 2023

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Abstract

Objective

To examine how often authors describe their clinical trials using efficacy or effectiveness language.

Study Design

Mixed methods review of clinical trials published in the top 25 psychiatry journals and the top 5 general medical journals by impact factor, on the topics of schizophrenia, depression, substance use, or suicidality.

Results

93 trials used efficacy language, 64 used effectiveness language, 70 trials used neither term, and 45 trials used both efficacy and effectiveness language.

Conclusion

In a minority of trials, authors used efficacy and effectiveness terminology interchangeably, suggesting that distinctions between these terms are not consistently maintained. The terms are vulnerable to overlapping usage.

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