[Discussion on differences between efficacy and effectiveness in clinical evaluation].

Both "efficacy" and "effectiveness" are two important concepts in clinical evaluation. In this article, the differences and relationship between the two connotations were expounded, and both the differences between "explanatory randomized controlled trial (ERCT)" and "pragmatic randomized controlled trial (PRCT)", which are respectively corresponding to "efficacy" and "effectiveness", and their application values in different stages in clinical therapeutic effect evaluation were further explored. This study may be a helpful reference for defining research purposes, locating appropriate research stages, and choosing suitable designs at its different stages in the clinical evaluation process of Chinese medicine researches.