The use of placebo and non-specific therapies and their relation to basic professional attitudes and the use of complementary therapies among German physicians--a cross-sectional survey.

We aimed to investigate the use of placebos (e.g. saline injections) and non-specific treatments (e.g. vitamin supplements in individuals without a relevant deficiency) among physicians working in private practices in Germany, and how such use is associated with the belief in and the use of compleme...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Klaus Linde, Clara Friedrichs, Anna Alscher, Stefan Wagenpfeil, Karin Meissner, Antonius Schneider
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3973570?pdf=render
_version_ 1818131861798387712
author Klaus Linde
Clara Friedrichs
Anna Alscher
Stefan Wagenpfeil
Karin Meissner
Antonius Schneider
author_facet Klaus Linde
Clara Friedrichs
Anna Alscher
Stefan Wagenpfeil
Karin Meissner
Antonius Schneider
author_sort Klaus Linde
collection DOAJ
description We aimed to investigate the use of placebos (e.g. saline injections) and non-specific treatments (e.g. vitamin supplements in individuals without a relevant deficiency) among physicians working in private practices in Germany, and how such use is associated with the belief in and the use of complementary and alternative treatments, and basic professional attitudes. A four-page questionnaire was sent to nationwide random samples of general practitioners (GP), internists and orthopaedists working in private practices. The response rate was 46% (935 of 2018). 24% of GPs, 44% of internists and 57% of orthopaedists had neither used pure placebos nor non-specific therapies in the previous 12 months. 11% percent of GPs, 12% of internists and 7% of orthopaedists had exclusively used pure placebos; 30%, 33% and 26%, respectively, had exclusively used non-specific therapies; 35%, 12% and 9% had used both. Age, sex and agreement to the statement that physicians should harness placebo effects were not significantly associated with any pattern of use. Exclusive use of pure placebos was associated with being a GP, being an internist, and having unorthodox professional views. In addition to these three factors, a lower use of CAM therapies and a wish for having more time was associated with the exclusive use of non-specific therapies. Among physicians using both pure placebo and non-specific therapies, heterodox views were also somewhat more pronounced. However, associations were particularly strong for being a GP (Odds ratio 11.6 (95%CI 6.41; 21.3)) and having orthodox views (Odds ratio 0.10 (95%CI 0.06; 0.18)) among this group. In conclusion, the use of placebos and non-specific treatments varies strongly between medical specialties and is associated with basic professional attitudes. The findings support the view that the use of placebos and, in particular, of non-specific therapies is primarily a coping behaviour for difficult and uncertain situations.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T08:27:40Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e429164d316f4ccab01485b56b1fba76
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T08:27:40Z
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-e429164d316f4ccab01485b56b1fba762022-12-22T01:14:32ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0194e9293810.1371/journal.pone.0092938The use of placebo and non-specific therapies and their relation to basic professional attitudes and the use of complementary therapies among German physicians--a cross-sectional survey.Klaus LindeClara FriedrichsAnna AlscherStefan WagenpfeilKarin MeissnerAntonius SchneiderWe aimed to investigate the use of placebos (e.g. saline injections) and non-specific treatments (e.g. vitamin supplements in individuals without a relevant deficiency) among physicians working in private practices in Germany, and how such use is associated with the belief in and the use of complementary and alternative treatments, and basic professional attitudes. A four-page questionnaire was sent to nationwide random samples of general practitioners (GP), internists and orthopaedists working in private practices. The response rate was 46% (935 of 2018). 24% of GPs, 44% of internists and 57% of orthopaedists had neither used pure placebos nor non-specific therapies in the previous 12 months. 11% percent of GPs, 12% of internists and 7% of orthopaedists had exclusively used pure placebos; 30%, 33% and 26%, respectively, had exclusively used non-specific therapies; 35%, 12% and 9% had used both. Age, sex and agreement to the statement that physicians should harness placebo effects were not significantly associated with any pattern of use. Exclusive use of pure placebos was associated with being a GP, being an internist, and having unorthodox professional views. In addition to these three factors, a lower use of CAM therapies and a wish for having more time was associated with the exclusive use of non-specific therapies. Among physicians using both pure placebo and non-specific therapies, heterodox views were also somewhat more pronounced. However, associations were particularly strong for being a GP (Odds ratio 11.6 (95%CI 6.41; 21.3)) and having orthodox views (Odds ratio 0.10 (95%CI 0.06; 0.18)) among this group. In conclusion, the use of placebos and non-specific treatments varies strongly between medical specialties and is associated with basic professional attitudes. The findings support the view that the use of placebos and, in particular, of non-specific therapies is primarily a coping behaviour for difficult and uncertain situations.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3973570?pdf=render
spellingShingle Klaus Linde
Clara Friedrichs
Anna Alscher
Stefan Wagenpfeil
Karin Meissner
Antonius Schneider
The use of placebo and non-specific therapies and their relation to basic professional attitudes and the use of complementary therapies among German physicians--a cross-sectional survey.
PLoS ONE
title The use of placebo and non-specific therapies and their relation to basic professional attitudes and the use of complementary therapies among German physicians--a cross-sectional survey.
title_full The use of placebo and non-specific therapies and their relation to basic professional attitudes and the use of complementary therapies among German physicians--a cross-sectional survey.
title_fullStr The use of placebo and non-specific therapies and their relation to basic professional attitudes and the use of complementary therapies among German physicians--a cross-sectional survey.
title_full_unstemmed The use of placebo and non-specific therapies and their relation to basic professional attitudes and the use of complementary therapies among German physicians--a cross-sectional survey.
title_short The use of placebo and non-specific therapies and their relation to basic professional attitudes and the use of complementary therapies among German physicians--a cross-sectional survey.
title_sort use of placebo and non specific therapies and their relation to basic professional attitudes and the use of complementary therapies among german physicians a cross sectional survey
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3973570?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT klauslinde theuseofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT clarafriedrichs theuseofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT annaalscher theuseofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT stefanwagenpfeil theuseofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT karinmeissner theuseofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT antoniusschneider theuseofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT klauslinde useofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT clarafriedrichs useofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT annaalscher useofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT stefanwagenpfeil useofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT karinmeissner useofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey
AT antoniusschneider useofplaceboandnonspecifictherapiesandtheirrelationtobasicprofessionalattitudesandtheuseofcomplementarytherapiesamonggermanphysiciansacrosssectionalsurvey