Placebo effect

Published

What do you think about placebo effect? Do you think this helps patients? Personally, I disagree with the placebo effects...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
What do you think about placebo effect?
I think that, although the placebo effect is very real, the act of knowingly administering placebos to patients has been considered unethical for quite some time already.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Agree w/ The Commuter. As a student intern I witnessed a situation where a patient who had very sudden onset of terrible back pain was not attended to properly. There was a Mengele of a doctor who decided the patient was "faking it" and ordered NS injections as a placebo. I came back a few days later to find out the pt. had died. I am certain his pain level contributed to his death. Horribly unethical!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology.

I don't do it with meds, but I do it with room temperatures. Our room temperatures are very "brittle." We can change the temperature, but finding a happy medium is impossible. The temperature goes from cold to roasting. When a patient asks me to make it "just two degrees warmer in here" I'll offer them a blanket then go back in 20 minutes later and ask, "Is it more comfortable in here now?" Usually I get, "Oh yes, thank you!" Obviously if they're freezing I will actually turn it up.

I also like to talk up the effects of antinausea/pain/anxiety meds. "Toradol usually works very well for knee pain! Made sure to tell me if you feel dizzy or anything, though!"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I think the mind is a powerful force. I think that in certain circumstances it might be useful.

There was a time in my career where we lied to patients. It was accepted and routine. I remember that we kept saline tubex's in the fridge so they would "sting like Demerol"...we called it Nor-Sol....and it worked for some patients. We also gave shots of liquor for a night cap...and we had far fewer detox issues.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology.
We also gave shots of liquor for a night cap...and we had far fewer detox issues.

I wish we still did this. All visitors out at 2130, night caps at 2200. My life would be so much easier.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
The Benefits of Naps and Sleep Rooms for Night-Shift Nurses - NurseTogether
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology.

Good article, but I'm not sure what it has to do with the topic?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"What do you think about placebo effect? Do you think this helps patients? Personally, I disagree with the placebo effects..."

OP, it's not clear to me what you're asking when you refer to "placebo effects". Are you saying you disagree with the idea of giving placebos to clients, or are you saying that you do not agree that individual's beliefs about treatments they are receiving can affect their experience of that treatment?

Administration of placebos has been considering unethical with medicine for many years, outside of a situation in which the client has been fully informed and agreed to the plan. Pretty much everyone in healthcare is in agreement about that.

As to whether or not there is such a thing as a placebo effect, there have been many studies done that have found it to be a powerful force in many aspects of health care. It is particularly powerful in the case of mild to moderate depression, which is one of the reasons it is so hard to find statistically significant results in double-blind studies of new antidepressants; many people report that their depression is relieved when they are taking placebos which they know may be antidepressant medication. There have been similar studies done with pain; many people report that their pain is relieved, at least somewhat, by a placebo in a study in which they don't know whether they're taking the real medication or a placebo (there are also interesting studies in which people report their pain is much improved by a placebo they are told is an expensive medication vs. a placebo which they are told is an inexpensive medication, but that's a whole different conversation). My father, an anesthesiologist, told me back when I was in nursing school to never give a pain medication without telling the person that the medication was really going to help her/him. I've done that throughout my career, and also do it with any other kind of prn medication -- for sleep, anxiety, nausea, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Good article, but I'm not sure what it has to do with the topic?
:facepalm: Too many windows open...wrong thread...:yeah:...now where is the sleeping thread....LOL
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology.
:facepalm: Too many windows open...wrong thread...:yeah:...now where is the sleeping thread....LOL

You might need a nap! Lol!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion