Academic Physicians Use Placebos in Clinical Practice and Believe in the Mind–Body Connection

Sherman, Rachel E.; Hickner, John

doi:10.1007/s11606-007-0332-z

Cited by 136 publications

(145 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…However, it can be certainly concluded that there is high prevalence of placebo use in clinical practice. Consistent with previous studies, [2,5] this study also found that most of the doctors believed that the effect of placebo was attributable to a psychological mechanism. …”

supporting

confidence: 91%

“…[4] Another study reported 60% prevalence, [2] a national survey of U.S. internists and rheumatologists showed 55% prevalence [3] while a study of U.S. academic physicians reported 45% prevalence. [5] Our study showed higher (89%) prevalence of placebo prescribing; and of these, 80% reported using it more than 10 times a year. With 27% of the GPs reporting daily use of placebo, this group seems to be the highest placebo user, possibly due to reasons like limited diagnostic skills, giving in to patients' demands, etc.…”

mentioning

confidence: 45%

“…These findings are similar to those of U.S. studies. [3,5] Only 9% reported use of saline and distilled water injections, showing a trend of preferential use of "impure" placebo over "pure" placebo. [1] Limitations of this study are its small sample size and possible under-reporting by the practitioners.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of placebo: Knowledge, attitude and practice among medical practitioners

Shah¹,

Panchal²,

Vyas³

et al. 2009

Indian J Med Sci

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supporting

confidence: 91%

mentioning

confidence: 45%

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Use of placebo: Knowledge, attitude and practice among medical practitioners

Shah¹,

Panchal²,

Vyas³

et al. 2009

Indian J Med Sci

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“…Still, a recent study (Sherman and Hickner 2008) found 45% of doctors had given placebos in clinical practice, but only 4% told patients of the placebos. On one hand, it seems as if a large fraction of doctors may be violating the moral approach cited above.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

White Lies

2012

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I n this paper we distinguish between two types of white lies: those that help others at the expense of the person telling the lie, which we term altruistic white lies, and those that help both others and the liar, which we term Pareto white lies. We find that a large fraction of participants are reluctant to tell even a Pareto white lie, demonstrating a pure lie aversion independent of any social preferences for outcomes. In contrast, a nonnegligible fraction of participants are willing to tell an altruistic white lie that hurts them a bit but significantly helps others. Comparing white lies to those where lying increases the liar's payoff at the expense of another reveals important insights into the interaction of incentives, lying aversion, and preferences for payoff distributions. Finally, in line with previous findings, women are less likely to lie when it is costly to the other side. Interestingly though, we find that women are more likely to tell an altruistic lie.

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“…[11] In Chicago, 45% of 231 internists affiliated with three local medical schools admitted to using the placebo. [12] In another study in Israel, they questioned 90 physicians and nurses in primary and tertiary care and found that 60% used the placebo. [13] Hemodialysis nurses develop a close relationship with patients as dialysis treatment is typically required three days a week and they mostly know about the patients' physical situations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%