This study explored how a doctor’s beliefs about a treatment’s effectiveness influenced a patient’s experience of pain relief.
The findings revealed that when doctors believe that a placebo cream is effective, patients report feeling less pain and perceive their doctors as being more empathetic.
The point is that when a physiotherapist genuinely believes in the impact of their treatments, patients are more likely to feel reassured and will have greater benefits… this is Placebo101!
“Our results provide evidence of a socially transmitted placebo effect, highlighting how healthcare providers’ behaviour and cognitive mindsets can affect clinical interactions.” – Chen et al 2019