ABSTRACT
In our current health-care systems it becomes more and more important to show that our interventions are effective and, often just as important, cost-effective. Clinicians are required to use evidence-based treatment protocols and researchers are encouraged to study the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of treatment. Policy makers and management need to make decisions about which forms of care to offer in a society where health-care costs are growing and budgets are shrinking. A distinction can be made between effectiveness (does the treatment work, how does it work, for whom does it work), efficacy (does it help) and efficiency (cost-benefit ratio). From a patient perspective, efficacy is the most relevant.
