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. 2020 Sep 9;11:619–635. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S250019

Table 8.

Uses of Placebo in Clinical Practice

Variable Profession Total
N (%)
χ2 P
Nursing Medical
Calming patients Yes 81 (43.8) 74 (40.0) 155 (83.8) 1.51 0.219
No 12 (6.5) 18 (9.7) 30 (16.2)
After “unjustified” demand for medication Yes 60 (32.6) 71 (38.6) 131 (71.2) 3.21 0.073
No 32 (17.4) 21 (11.4) 53 (28.8)
After all clinical treatments were exhausted Yes 44 (24.0) 37 (20.2) 81 (44.3) 0.95 0.329
No 48 (26.2) 54 (29.5) 102 (55.7)
Used as supplemental treatment Yes 54 (29.2) 42 (22.7) 96 (51.9) 2.85 0.019
No 39 (21.1) 50 (27.0) 89 (48.1)
Used as diagnostic tool Yes 63 (34.2) 62 (33.7) 125 (67.9) 0.003 0.955
No 30 (16.3) 29 (15.8) 59 (32.1)
Stop patient complaints Yes 57 (31.3) 26 (14.3) 83 (45.6) 20.05 0.000
No 35 (19.2) 64 (35.2) 99 (54.4)
Maintain a good relationship with a patient Yes 53 (28.8) 33 (17.9) 86 (46.7) 8.73 0.003
No 39 (21.2) 59 (32.1) 98 (53.3)
Buy time before next regular dosage of medication Yes 52 (28.1) 34 (18.4) 86 (46.5) 5.99 0.014
No 42 (22.7) 57 (30.8) 99 (53.5)
Avoid patient addiction to any medication Yes 63 (34.4) 59 (32.2) 122 (66.7) 0.54 0.464
No 28 (15.3) 33 (18.0) 61 (33.3)