What trial participants need to be told about placebo effects to give informed consent: A survey to establish existing knowledge among patients with back pain

Authors: Hughes, J., Greville-Harris, M., Graham, C.A., Lewith, G., White, P. and Bishop, F.L.

Journal: Journal of Medical Ethics

Volume: 43

Issue: 12

Pages: 867-870

eISSN: 1473-4257

ISSN: 0306-6800

DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2016-103964

Abstract:

Introduction Patients require an accurate knowledge about placebos and their possible effects to ensure consent for placebo-controlled clinical trials is adequately informed. However, few previous studies have explored patients' baseline (ie, pretrial recruitment) levels of understanding and knowledge about placebos. The present online survey aimed to assess knowledge about placebos among patients with a history of back pain. Design A 15-item questionnaire was constructed to measure knowledge about placebos. Additional questions assessed sociodemographic characteristics, duration and severity of back pain, and previous experience of receiving placebos. Setting Participants recruited from community settings completed the study online. Results 210 participants completed the questionnaire. 86.7% had back pain in the past 6 months, 44.3% currently had back pain. 4.3% had received a placebo intervention as part of a clinical trial and 68.1% had previously read or heard information about placebos. Overall knowledge of placebos was high, with participants on average answering 12.07 of 15 questions about placebos correctly (SD=2.35). However, few participants correctly answered questions about the nocebo effect (31.9% correct) and the impact of the colour of a placebo pill (55.2% correct). Conclusions The findings identified key gaps in knowledge about placebos. The lack of understanding of the nocebo effect in particular has implications for the informed consent of trial participants. Research ethics committees and investigators should prioritise amending informed consent procedures to incorporate the fact that participants in the placebo arm might experience adverse side effects.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32886/

Source: Scopus

What trial participants need to be told about placebo effects to give informed consent: a survey to establish existing knowledge among patients with back pain.

Authors: Hughes, J., Greville-Harris, M., Graham, C.A., Lewith, G., White, P. and Bishop, F.L.

Journal: J Med Ethics

Volume: 43

Issue: 12

Pages: 867-870

eISSN: 1473-4257

DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2016-103964

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Patients require an accurate knowledge about placebos and their possible effects to ensure consent for placebo-controlled clinical trials is adequately informed. However, few previous studies have explored patients' baseline (ie, pretrial recruitment) levels of understanding and knowledge about placebos. The present online survey aimed to assess knowledge about placebos among patients with a history of back pain. DESIGN: A 15-item questionnaire was constructed to measure knowledge about placebos. Additional questions assessed sociodemographic characteristics, duration and severity of back pain, and previous experience of receiving placebos. SETTING: Participants recruited from community settings completed the study online. RESULTS: 210 participants completed the questionnaire. 86.7% had back pain in the past 6 months, 44.3% currently had back pain. 4.3% had received a placebo intervention as part of a clinical trial and 68.1% had previously read or heard information about placebos. Overall knowledge of placebos was high, with participants on average answering 12.07 of 15 questions about placebos correctly (SD=2.35). However, few participants correctly answered questions about the nocebo effect (31.9% correct) and the impact of the colour of a placebo pill (55.2% correct). CONCLUSIONS: The findings identified key gaps in knowledge about placebos. The lack of understanding of the nocebo effect in particular has implications for the informed consent of trial participants. Research ethics committees and investigators should prioritise amending informed consent procedures to incorporate the fact that participants in the placebo arm might experience adverse side effects.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32886/

Source: PubMed

What trial participants need to be told about placebo effects to give informed consent: a survey to establish existing knowledge among patients with back pain

Authors: Hughes, J., Greville-Harris, M., Graham, C.A., Lewith, G., White, P. and Bishop, F.L.

Journal: JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS

Volume: 43

Issue: 12

Pages: 867-870

eISSN: 1473-4257

ISSN: 0306-6800

DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2016-103964

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32886/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

What trial participants need to be told about placebo effects to give informed consent: a survey to establish existing knowledge among patients with back pain.

Authors: Hughes, J., Greville-Harris, M., Graham, C.A., Lewith, G., White, P. and Bishop, F.L.

Journal: Journal of medical ethics

Volume: 43

Issue: 12

Pages: 867-870

eISSN: 1473-4257

ISSN: 0306-6800

DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2016-103964

Abstract:

Introduction

Patients require an accurate knowledge about placebos and their possible effects to ensure consent for placebo-controlled clinical trials is adequately informed. However, few previous studies have explored patients' baseline (ie, pretrial recruitment) levels of understanding and knowledge about placebos. The present online survey aimed to assess knowledge about placebos among patients with a history of back pain.

Design

A 15-item questionnaire was constructed to measure knowledge about placebos. Additional questions assessed sociodemographic characteristics, duration and severity of back pain, and previous experience of receiving placebos.

Setting

Participants recruited from community settings completed the study online.

Results

210 participants completed the questionnaire. 86.7% had back pain in the past 6 months, 44.3% currently had back pain. 4.3% had received a placebo intervention as part of a clinical trial and 68.1% had previously read or heard information about placebos. Overall knowledge of placebos was high, with participants on average answering 12.07 of 15 questions about placebos correctly (SD=2.35). However, few participants correctly answered questions about the nocebo effect (31.9% correct) and the impact of the colour of a placebo pill (55.2% correct).

Conclusions

The findings identified key gaps in knowledge about placebos. The lack of understanding of the nocebo effect in particular has implications for the informed consent of trial participants. Research ethics committees and investigators should prioritise amending informed consent procedures to incorporate the fact that participants in the placebo arm might experience adverse side effects.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32886/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

What trial participants need to be told about placebo effects to give informed consent: a survey to establish existing knowledge among patients with back pain.

Authors: Hughes, J., Greville-Harris, M., Graham, C.A., Lewith, G., White, P. and Bishop, F.L.

Journal: Journal of Medical Ethics

Volume: 43

Issue: 12

Pages: 867-870

ISSN: 1473-4257

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Patients require an accurate knowledge about placebos and their possible effects to ensure consent for placebo-controlled clinical trials is adequately informed. However, few previous studies have explored patients' baseline (ie, pretrial recruitment) levels of understanding and knowledge about placebos. The present online survey aimed to assess knowledge about placebos among patients with a history of back pain. DESIGN: A 15-item questionnaire was constructed to measure knowledge about placebos. Additional questions assessed sociodemographic characteristics, duration and severity of back pain, and previous experience of receiving placebos. SETTING: Participants recruited from community settings completed the study online. RESULTS: 210 participants completed the questionnaire. 86.7% had back pain in the past 6 months, 44.3% currently had back pain. 4.3% had received a placebo intervention as part of a clinical trial and 68.1% had previously read or heard information about placebos. Overall knowledge of placebos was high, with participants on average answering 12.07 of 15 questions about placebos correctly (SD=2.35). However, few participants correctly answered questions about the nocebo effect (31.9% correct) and the impact of the colour of a placebo pill (55.2% correct). CONCLUSIONS: The findings identified key gaps in knowledge about placebos. The lack of understanding of the nocebo effect in particular has implications for the informed consent of trial participants. Research ethics committees and investigators should prioritise amending informed consent procedures to incorporate the fact that participants in the placebo arm might experience adverse side effects.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32886/

Source: BURO EPrints