General Practitioners Attitudes towards Open-Label Placebos in Australia

Abstract

Objective: Multiple studies have found between 18-70% of medical professionals prescribe placebos, with general practitioners’ (GPs) reportedly being the highest prescribers. Even though placebos are common in clinical practice, patients and doctors alike have issues with the deceit involved, which is resolved with open-label placebos. The study looked at GPs attitudes towards traditional placebos and open-label placebos. Method: Participants were practising GPs in Australia (N = 54). The study involved an online questionnaire composed of four different sections; demographics, attitudes towards traditional placebos and open-label placebos, understanding towards open-label placebo mechanisms and usage, and any concerns or comments they had towards open-label placebos. Results: Differences found between traditional placebos and open-label placebos only involved GPs who were accepting of placebo interventions. GPs understanding of the underlying mechanisms being psychological and involving the patient/doctor relationship is in line with the current literature. The situational usage of open-label placebos in cases of non-specific or physical symptoms match with conditions commonly presented to GPs. The likelihood to prescribe open-label placebos did not appear to be influenced by demographic variables. The highest number of concerns and comments reported regarded patient acceptability and the lack of research in clinical practice. Conclusion: This exploratory analysis has constructed an overview of general practitioners’ attitudes towards placebos in Australia. Future research conducted with larger samples would be beneficial to evaluate demographic influences and the practicality of open-label placebos. This study indicated that open-label placebos are a viable treatment option in clinical practice pending further research.