efficacy

efficacy
The extent to which a specific intervention, procedure, regimen, or service produces a beneficial result under ideal conditions. Cf.:effectiveness. [L. efficacia, fr, ef-ficio, to perform, accomplish]

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ef·fi·ca·cy (efґĭ-kə-se) [L. efficax effectual] 1. the ability of an intervention to produce the desired beneficial effect in expert hands and under ideal circumstances. Cf. effectiveness. 2. in pharmacology, the ability of a drug to produce the desired therapeutic effect; it is independent of potency, which expresses the amount of the drug necessary to achieve the desired effect.

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


Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Efficacy — is the capacity to produce an effect. It has different specific meanings in different fields. 1 ef·fi·ca·cy /ˈɛfɪkəsi/ noun [noncount] formal : the power to produce a desired result or effect ▪ The efficacy of this treatment has not yet been …   Wikipedia

  • efficacy — ef fi*ca*cy, n. [L. efficacia, fr. efficax. See {Efficacious}.] Power to produce effects; operation or energy of an agent or force; production of the effect intended; as, the efficacy of medicine in counteracting disease; the efficacy of prayer.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • efficacy — 1520s, from L. efficacia efficacy, efficiency, from efficax (gen. efficacis) powerful, effective, from stem of efficere work out, accomplish (see EFFECT (Cf. effect)). Earlier in same sense was efficace (c.1200), from O.Fr. eficace (14c.), from L …   Etymology dictionary

  • efficacy — index caliber (mental capacity), competence (ability), dint, efficiency, force (strength), st …   Law dictionary

  • efficacy — [n] efficiency; productiveness ability, adequacy, capability, capableness, capacity, competence, effect, effectiveness, efficaciousness, energy, force, influence, performance, potency, power, strength, success, sufficiency, use, vigor, virtue,… …   New thesaurus

  • efficacy — ► NOUN formal ▪ the ability to produce a desired or intended result …   English terms dictionary

  • efficacy — [ef′i kə sē] n. [ME & OFr efficace < L efficacia < efficax: see EFFICACIOUS] power to produce effects or intended results; effectiveness …   English World dictionary

  • Efficacy — Dieser Artikel oder Abschnitt ist nicht hinreichend mit Belegen (Literatur, Webseiten oder Einzelnachweisen) versehen. Die fraglichen Angaben werden daher möglicherweise demnächst gelöscht. Hilf Wikipedia, indem du die Angaben recherchierst und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • efficacy — [[t]e̱fɪkəsi[/t]] N UNCOUNT: usu with poss If you talk about the efficacy of something, you are talking about its effectiveness and its ability to do what it is supposed to. [FORMAL] Recent medical studies confirm the efficacy of a healthier… …   English dictionary

  • efficacy — /ef i keuh see/, n., pl. efficacies. capacity for producing a desired result or effect; effectiveness: a remedy of great efficacy. [1520 30; < L efficacia, equiv. to efficac (see EFFICACIOUS) + ia Y3] * * * …   Universalium

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