Survey on US Physicians' Use of Placebo Treatments
Author Information
Author(s): Tilburt Jon C, Emanuel Ezekiel J, Kaptchuk Ted J, Curlin Farr A, Miller Franklin G
Primary Institution: National Institutes of Health
Hypothesis
What are the attitudes and behaviors of US internists and rheumatologists regarding the use of placebo treatments?
Conclusion
Prescribing placebo treatments is common among US internists and rheumatologists, and many view it as ethically permissible.
Supporting Evidence
- About half of the surveyed internists and rheumatologists reported prescribing placebo treatments regularly.
- 62% of physicians believed the practice of prescribing placebo treatments was ethically permissible.
- 41% reported using over-the-counter analgesics as placebo treatments.
- 38% reported using vitamins as placebo treatments.
Takeaway
Many doctors in the US give patients treatments that don't have real medical effects, like vitamins, because they think it might help them feel better.
Methodology
Cross-sectional mailed survey of 1200 practicing internists and rheumatologists.
Potential Biases
Respondents may have been more favorable towards placebo treatments than the general population of physicians.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design and moderate response rate (57%) may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
679 respondents, mean age 51 years, 73% male, 81% white.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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