efficacy

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

efficacy

[ef´ĭ-kah″se]

1. the ability of a drug to achieve the desired effect.

2. the degree to which an intervention accomplishes the desired or projected outcomes.

ef·fi·ca·cy

(ef'ĭ-kă-sē),

The extent to which a specific intervention, procedure, regimen, or service produces a beneficial result under ideal conditions. Compare: effectiveness.

[L. efficacia, fr, ef-ficio, to perform, accomplish]

efficacy

/ef·fi·ca·cy/ (ef´ĭ-kah-se)

1. the ability of an intervention to produce the desired beneficial effect in expert hands and under ideal circumstances.

2. the ability of a drug to produce the desired therapeutic effect.

Dose-effect curve for two drugs of different efficacy: The efficacy of drug A is greater than that of drug B.

efficacy

[ef′əkəsē]

Etymology: L, effectus, performance

(of a drug or treatment) the ability of a drug or treatment to produce a specific result, regardless of dosage. Opioids have a nearly identical efficacy but require various dosages to obtain the effect.

efficacy

In the context of evidence-based medicine, the capacity of a drug or therapy to positively influence the course or duration of a disease at the dose tested in the patient population for which it is designed and has been tested.

efficacy

An index of the potency of a drug or disease treatment; for a vaccine, efficacy is the percentage of persons who are protected by the vaccine

ef·fi·ca·cy

(ef'i-kă-sē)

1. nursing The success or effectiveness of a treatment.

2. The power to produce a desired effect.

[L. efficacia, fr, ef-ficio, to perform, accomplish]

ef·fi·ca·cy

(ef'i-kă-sē)

Extent to which a specific intervention, procedure, regimen, or service produces a beneficial result under ideal conditions.
Compare: effectiveness

[L. efficacia, fr, ef-ficio, to perform, accomplish]

efficacy

(ef´ikəsē),
n the ability to provide a clinically measurable effect, preferably beneficial.

efficacy

intrinsic activity; is equal to the magnitude of the maximal response.

Patient discussion about efficacy

Q. What do you think about the efficacy of Chinese medicine?

A. Did you know that Traditional Chinese Medicine works around the lungs, kidneys, liver and heart? Besides this, TCM also works around the small and large intestines, stomach, gall bladder and the urinary bladder. Being connected with ‘qi’ energy and blood, the vital substance, circulating through them, TCM uses a holistic approach to harmonizing the functions of these organs. TCM has deployed the theory that all structures in the body should work in tandem with the other and with the environment that surrounds us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7_uSB8PFak&eurl=http://www.imedix.com/health_community/vYxQXX7cSjv4_locating_acupuncture_points_free_online_guide?q=chinese%20medicineiurl=http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/YxQXX7cSjv4/hqdefault.jpg&feature=player_embedded

More discussions about efficacy

References in classic literature ?

Let us examine the points in which it varies from pure democracy, and we shall comprehend both the nature of the cure and the efficacy which it must derive from the Union.

View in context

You will learn from Poole how I have had London ransacked; it was in vain; and I am now persuaded that my first supply was impure, and that it was that unknown impurity which lent efficacy to the draught.

View in context

The adjutants general were there because they always accompanied the Emperor, and lastly and chiefly Pfuel was there because he had drawn up the plan of campaign against Napoleon and, having induced Alexander to believe in the efficacy of that plan, was directing the whole business of the war.

View in context

But it is given to us sometimes even in our every-day life to witness the saving influence of a noble nature, the divine efficacy of rescue that may lie in a self-subduing act of fellowship.

View in context

She had rather nice eyes, quite dark and very soft, and she was a great believer in their efficacy.

View in context

He had no doubt whatever of the efficacy of his formula, and for once he knew the editorial mind when he said positively to himself that the first two he sent off would bring checks.

View in context

A sacred rite of such efficacy that he who finds himself

with what spiritual efficacy has not been determined.

View in context

13) Pliny notices the efficacy of the flesh of a tortoise against withcraft.

View in context

The good woman no sooner felt the gold within her palm, than her temper began (such is the efficacy of that panacea) to be mollified.

View in context

In the fourth case, the word acquires, through association, some of the same causal efficacy as the object.

There is, however, another way of approaching the meaning of images, namely through their causal efficacy.