What measures the effectiveness of a medical treatment?

The effectiveness of a medical treatment is best measured by patient outcomes. This involves evaluating the results of the treatment in terms of improvement in health status, recovery rates, and overall satisfaction with the treatment process. Patient outcomes provide a clear indication of how well a treatment works in achieving its intended effects, such as symptom relief, restoration of function, and enhancement of quality of life.

Other factors like patient feedback and the cost of treatment may provide important context or supplemental information, but they do not directly assess the efficacy of the treatment itself. Patient feedback focuses on subjective experiences and satisfaction, while the cost primarily indicates financial implications rather than health results. Duration of treatment speaks to the time invested but does not necessarily correlate with effectiveness. Therefore, while all these aspects are valuable in healthcare discussions, patient outcomes remain the most objective and comprehensive measure of a treatment's effectiveness.