Abstract
Background: In the developing world of medicine, placebo treatment has been viewed as a subject of controversy. Some physicians support its' use and advocate its effectiveness while others are against it for various reasons. This study provides identification of the practice of placebo and debates its validity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh-Saudi Arabia, targeting doctors from both genders different ages and experiences. 190 physicians were chosen by quota sampling technique. The data was collected by a printed survey and distributed manually. SPSS software was used for analyzing. Results: The results showed that age, years of experience and the specialty of the physician doesn't influence their frequency of placebo use or the attitude. However, positive attitude prevailed more among male physicians (p=0.0204). 78% of the physicians in this study had positive attitude towards placebo prescription while none showed a negative attitude. 80% of residents used placebo used it to calm the patient and 35% as a treatment for nonspecific symptoms. Conclusion: Despite of the ethical controversy of prescribing placebo, a fair number of doctors prescribe it to their patients. This study revealed that there is no significant difference in age, gender, experience, or specialty between doctors who support placebo as a medical treatment compared to those who do not. Our study provides valuable data about the attitudes of physicians towards such a controversial methodology of treatment.