Abstract

BackgroundPlacebo effects on pain have been found to vary in size for different routes of medication administration (e.g. oral vs. injection). This has important implications for both clinical research and practice. To enhance our understanding of these differential placebo effects, research on the underlying expectations about multiple routes and symptoms other than pain is vital.MethodsA cross‐sectional, Internet‐based survey was conducted in a representative sample of the Dutch population (n = 508). Respondents rated the expected effectiveness of pain‐ and itch‐relieving medication in six forms, representing oral, injection and topical routes of administration.ResultsInjected medication was expected to be most effective for relieving pain, and topical medication for relieving itch. Furthermore, exploratory analyses showed that injections were expected to have the most rapid onset and long‐lasting effects, and to be most frightening and expensive, while topical medication was expected to be the safest and the easiest to use, and oral medication was expected to have the most side effects. Higher expected effectiveness was moderately associated with expectations of more rapid onset and long‐lasting effects, and better safety and ease of use. Associations of expected effectiveness with respondent characteristics (e.g. medication use and personality characteristics) were statistically small or nonsignificant.ConclusionsExpected effectiveness of medication differed depending on route of administration and targeted symptom. These findings have important implications for the design and interpretation of clinical trials and suggest that medication effects might be enhanced by prescribing medicine via the route that patients expect to be most effective for their complaint.SignificanceDifferences in the expected effectiveness of medication depend on the route of administration (oral, injection, topical) and targeted symptom (pain, itch). These findings have important implications for clinical practice and the design and interpretation of clinical trials.

Highlights

  • Placebos have repeatedly been found to relieve pain and other symptoms, presumably through expectancies (Kirsch, 1997; Benedetti, 2014; Peerdeman et al, 2016a)

  • An important treatment characteristic that has been associated with differential placebo effects on pain is the route of medication administration

  • It is frequently suggested that more invasive routes of medication administration lead to enhanced placebo effects (Lasagna, 1955; Kaptchuk et al, 2000; Schwartz et al, 2000)

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Placebos have repeatedly been found to relieve pain and other symptoms, presumably through expectancies (Kirsch, 1997; Benedetti, 2014; Peerdeman et al, 2016a). Placebo effects on pain have been found to vary in size for different routes of medication administration (e.g. oral vs injection) This has important implications for both clinical research and practice. Conclusions: Expected effectiveness of medication differed depending on route of administration and targeted symptom These findings have important implications for the design and interpretation of clinical trials and suggest that medication effects might be enhanced by prescribing medicine via the route that patients expect to be most effective for their complaint. Significance: Differences in the expected effectiveness of medication depend on the route of administration (oral, injection, topical) and targeted symptom (pain, itch). These findings have important implications for clinical practice and the design and interpretation of clinical trials

Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.