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In a 2008 survey, more than half of randomly selected U.S. internists and rheumatologists reported they had recommended a placebo treatment (most of the placebos were “active” placebos: e.g., over-the-counter analgesics, vitamins, sedatives, antibiotics) at least once in the past year (NEJM JW Gen Med Oct 30 2008). In contrast, we know little about patients' views of this practice. In this telephone survey of 853 adult members of a large California health plan who had been seen by primary care providers for chronic conditions during the previous 6 months, investigators determined patients' attitudes about placebos. The surveyed people were told that “placebo treatments can be sugar pills or other treatments used to create a placebo effect.”…