Which statement correctly differentiates efficiency from effectiveness in program evaluation?

Which statement correctly differentiates efficiency from effectiveness in program evaluation?

• A. Efficiency measures the actual health impact; effectiveness measures resources used per unit of output.
• B. Efficiency measures resources used per unit of output; effectiveness measures the actual health impact.
• C. Efficiency and effectiveness both measure the same thing.
• D. Efficiency measures time to deliver services; effectiveness measures cost per unit.

Answer: (B)

In program evaluation, you separate how much you spend from what you achieve. Efficiency looks at resources used relative to what is produced—how much input (time, money, staff) is needed per unit of output (vaccines delivered, screenings completed). Effectiveness, on the other hand, asks whether the program achieved the desired health outcomes—did the intervention actually improve health in the target population. That is why the statement that efficiency measures resources used per unit of output and effectiveness measures the actual health impact is the correct one. For example, spending $100,000 to deliver 1,000 vaccines is an efficiency issue (cost per vaccine). If those vaccines prevent disease or reduce incidence, that reflects effectiveness (health impact). The other options misplace these definitions: swapping health impact with resources per output, claiming they measure the same thing, or tying efficiency to time and effectiveness to cost per unit.

In program evaluation, you separate how much you spend from what you achieve. Efficiency looks at resources used relative to what is produced—how much input (time, money, staff) is needed per unit of output (vaccines delivered, screenings completed). Effectiveness, on the other hand, asks whether the program achieved the desired health outcomes—did the intervention actually improve health in the target population.

That is why the statement that efficiency measures resources used per unit of output and effectiveness measures the actual health impact is the correct one. For example, spending $100,000 to deliver 1,000 vaccines is an efficiency issue (cost per vaccine). If those vaccines prevent disease or reduce incidence, that reflects effectiveness (health impact).

The other options misplace these definitions: swapping health impact with resources per output, claiming they measure the same thing, or tying efficiency to time and effectiveness to cost per unit.