Abstract Background: Placebos and their effects are complex and varied processes, observed across a wide range of medical fields, potentially changing their perception and application in medicine and research. However, uncertainties regarding their practical use as well as ethical concerns highlight the need for more precise data and policies. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore how placebos are utilized and viewed by healthcare professionals in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2024 among 476 healthcare professionals in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a validated survey, and the descriptive statistics were performed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. Results: Four hundred and seventy-six participants took part in the study. Forty-two percent claimed to never have used placebos, with specialists (34.3%) and consultants (31.3%) most likely to refrain from its use. Among those who used placebos, 32.4% found them sometimes effective while 20.8% believed that they were never effective. Reasons for administering placebos included calming patients (18.2%), adjunctive therapy (10.7%), and unjustified demands for medication (9.5%). Ethical opinions included 44.1% supporting its use if research confirms its efficacy while 12.4% believed that it should be prohibited. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the contradictory role of placebos among Saudi physicians, but the adoption of a comprehensive method to patient care might result in better outcomes. Further studies should focus on developing clear guidelines for placebo use and investigating the mental processes underlying their effects.
Jolha et al. (Mon,) studied this question.