Therapeutic efficacy. Effects, efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency of therapeutic interventions

Terms such as efficacy and efficiency of treatment are presently taking on growing importance for medical practice. Two examples are the increasing li mitation of cost reimbursement to evidence-based, scientifically proven the rapeutic measures and assessment of efficiency in terms of budgeting. We br iefly discuss the definition and application of important terms and concept s in this context and ethical and methodological problems involved.