The placebo effect and the hidden benefits of oral medications

The effectiveness of any drug involves many factors not just the pharmacological ingredients. The hidden benefits of a drug are termed the 'placebo effect', but because many of these factors cannot be explained scientifically they are often dismissed as irrelevant. However, factors including the attributes of the drug itself (shape, colour, taste), the relationship between the nurse dispensing the drug and the patient receiving it, the route of administration, the setting in which the drug is given and wider sociocultural beliefs surrounding the ingestion of medicines can all have a major influence on a drug's efficacy. This article explains the term 'placebo' and explores some of the factors contributing to the placebo effect in relation to oral medications. Nurses need to appreciate the influence of such factors in order to provide appropriate and holistic care to patients with different social and cultural beliefs and expectations.