Open AccessEfficacy versus effectiveness trials
Author(s) -
David Price,
Elizabeth V. Hillyer,
Thys van der Molen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1528-4050
pISSN - 1473-6322
DOI - 10.1097/aci.0b013e32835ad059
Subject(s) - observational study , medicine , psychological intervention , randomized controlled trial , asthma , inhaler , guideline , clinical trial , intensive care medicine , comparative effectiveness research , medline , alternative medicine , physical therapy , family medicine , nursing , pathology , political science , law
Randomized controlled trials, known as efficacy trials and long considered the gold standard for evidence-based asthma guidelines, are designed to test whether interventions have a benefit for selective patient populations under ideal conditions. The goal of pragmatic trials and observational studies instead is to understand real-life efficacy, known as effectiveness. This review summarizes the strengths and limitations of efficacy and effectiveness trials, results of recent effectiveness trials in asthma and initiatives promoting effectiveness research.