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Table 6 Statements regarding the ethical and legal legitimacy of placebo use

From: Use of placebo interventions among Swiss primary care providers

  

Use of

pure

placebos

 

Use of

impure

placebos

 
 

N

I agree

I am un-certain

I disagree

N

I agree

I am un-certain

I disagree

p value*

The use of placebos

         

• must be rejected in principle because it is ineffective.

220

58

(26%)

37

(17%)

125

(57%)

220

41

(19%)

26

(12%)

153

(70%)

p < 0.05

• must be rejected in principle because it implies deceiving the patient.

223

101

(45%)

39

(17%)

83

(37%)

221

52

(24%)

39

(18%)

130

(59%)

p < 0.001

• must be rejected in principle because of legal concerns.

220

43

(20%)

84

(38%)

93

(42%)

221

30

(14%)

67

(30%)

124

(56%)

n.s.

• can be used as long as physician and patient work together in partnership.

220

132

(60%)

35

(16%)

53

(24%)

221

166

(75%)

25

(11%)

30

(14%)

p < 0.001

• is acceptable for the benefit of the patient and for minimizing harm to the patient.

219

120

(55%)

43

(20%)

56

(26%)

221

158

(71%)

24

(11%)

39

(18%)

p < 0.01

• is for me a traditional component of medical practice.

219

37

(17%)

25

(11%)

157

(72%)

217

91

(42%)

26

(12%)

100

(46%)

p < 0.001

  1. Multiple answers allowed. * Significance testing by use of McNemar's Chisquare test, pure vs. impure placebo ("I am uncertain"-answers were excluded from analysis).
  2. The total percentage may not equal 100 due to rounding.