From placebos to face masks

Abstract

One of the privileges of being a Consultant Editor is that I get to read many of the articles before they go to press. I was refl ecting on this advantaged position during a lunch break, while reading a fascinating article submitted for this edition. It was written by Mark Greener and is about the way that prescribers can harness insights about healing and therapeutic interventions to improve outcomes for patients through the use of placebos. Aft er learning that the direct translation of the word placebo is ‘I shall please’ and being thoroughly immersed in placebo effects, I was momentarily distracted by an email that had landed in my inbox, detailing the need for me to go on a short a training session to learn how to fit a face mask, as part of the swine fl u prevention strategy in our Trust. At the time of writing we are at Phase 5 of the pandemic scale (Phase 6 being a full-blown pandemic). Th egeneral public appear to be rather sceptical at the moment, with many taking a lighthearted approach, but many others being more than a little concerned at the speed at which the situation is developing. I was rather surprised to find that we need training to fit a face mask—and even more confused by the leafl et that the Department of Health is distributing to every household (Department of Health, 2009). Th is states that the available scientific evidence shows that basic face masks do not prevent people from being infected. Sir Liam Donaldson had confirmed this view in the Daily Telegraph by stating that he thought that a face mask might give people a false sense of security. But having my head full of thoughts of placebo effects, I thought that perhaps the placebo effect of a face mask would be useful! Th is view is reiterated by Peter Sandman, a consultant in disaster management, who states that: ‘It’s not dumb to give people things to do in a crisis because doing something when anxious makes you feel calmer’ (Telegraph.co.uk, 2009). I decided there and then to sign up for the training session—after all I need the placebo effect as much as everyone else, but I think a supply of Tamifl u or Relenza might be more reassuring just in case the face mask fails to work!