Table 1. Placebo attitudes and ways in which physicians would describe placebos to patients.

Question	% of respondents 1
	Canada	US 2	P-value
I have prescribed or administered a placebo in the following situation(s):
After all clinically indicated treatment possibilities were exhausted	11	11	NS
After "unjustified" demand for medication	8	15	χ2(1) = 5.1 (P = 0.024)
To placate or calm a patient	13	18	NS
To control pain (including in the context of patient-controlled analgesia)	5	6	NS
As a diagnostic tool (e.g., to distinguish between psychogenic and organic causes of symptoms)	10	4	χ2(1) = 6.5 (P = 0.011)
As a supplemental treatment	14	18	NS
For non-specific complaints	12	13	NS
To stop patients from complaining	4	6	NS
If I were to prescribe a placebo, I would tell the patient that:
It is a medication	4	19	χ2(1) = 22.5 (P < 0.0001)
It is a placebo	11	4	χ2(1) = 7.4 (P = 0.007)
It is medicine with no specific effect	6	9	NS
It is a substance that may help and will not harm	35	34	NS
Other	5	33	χ2(1) = 51.6 (P < 0.0001)
The following statement(s) best describe(s) my position on the use of placebos outside of research:
The use of placebos should be categorically prohibited.	9	12	NS
The use of placebos may be permitted if research supports its efficacy.	44	46	NS
The use of placebos may be permitted if the experience of colleagues supports it.	9	9	NS
The use of placebos may be permitted after notifying the patient that he/she is receiving a placebo.	31	21	χ2(1) = 5.7 (P = 0.017)
The use of placebos may be permitted if I anticipate that it will be of benefit to the patient.	37	31	NS

¹ Sums may exceed 100% due to acceptance of multiple responses.

² reported in Sherman et al., 2008

NS = non-significant, as determined by chi-square test