Did you know that your doctor may be giving you a placebo for your niggle? Well they very well may be. Antibiotics for flu? There you have one example already.
A recent survey was done by Kermen and co-workers1 to determine how frequently American physicians prescribe placebos.Fifty-six percent (56%) of surveyed physicians reported prescribing or administering placebos in their practices, with younger physicians being a lot more likely to prescribe placebos than older physicians. The most frequently-used placebo was antibiotics (for non-bacterial diagnoses, 40%). The second most frequently prescribed placebo was vitamines (23%), followed by herbal supplements (12%). The most common reasons for prescribing placebos were “unjustified demand for medication” (32%) and “to calm patients” (21%). Most physicians (31%) told their patients that their presription consisted of a substance that will help and not hurt, and a very honest 2% told their patients that what they were given was an actual placebo. Most physicians believe that the placebo effect is beneficial and can have real, positive results.
So, while most physicians "believe" in the placebo effect, only about half would prescribe a substance that they knew had no direct therapeutic ingredient. Of course this was a very small study, but it makes one wonder what's happening in one's own surgery. It also reiterates the strong effect that thoughts can have on health.
1 Kermen R, Hickner J, Brody H, Hasham I. Family physicians believe the placebo effect is therapeutic but often use real drugs as placebos. Fam Med. 42:636-42 (2010)
Source
A recent survey was done by Kermen and co-workers1 to determine how frequently American physicians prescribe placebos.Fifty-six percent (56%) of surveyed physicians reported prescribing or administering placebos in their practices, with younger physicians being a lot more likely to prescribe placebos than older physicians. The most frequently-used placebo was antibiotics (for non-bacterial diagnoses, 40%). The second most frequently prescribed placebo was vitamines (23%), followed by herbal supplements (12%). The most common reasons for prescribing placebos were “unjustified demand for medication” (32%) and “to calm patients” (21%). Most physicians (31%) told their patients that their presription consisted of a substance that will help and not hurt, and a very honest 2% told their patients that what they were given was an actual placebo. Most physicians believe that the placebo effect is beneficial and can have real, positive results.
So, while most physicians "believe" in the placebo effect, only about half would prescribe a substance that they knew had no direct therapeutic ingredient. Of course this was a very small study, but it makes one wonder what's happening in one's own surgery. It also reiterates the strong effect that thoughts can have on health.
1 Kermen R, Hickner J, Brody H, Hasham I. Family physicians believe the placebo effect is therapeutic but often use real drugs as placebos. Fam Med. 42:636-42 (2010)
Source
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