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The Power of the Placebo
Article

The Power of the Placebo

A recent study revealed that stents are likely ineffective at relieving chest pain. Why didn’t we know that?

Slate, 2017

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Editorial Rating

8

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  • Eye Opening
  • For Experts
  • Hot Topic

Recommendation

Among health care professionals, there is a strong emphasis on evidence-based medicine to determine what treatments to prescribe. Cardiologist Ethan Weiss reports on a new study that investigates the value of angioplasty for heart patients. The study found no benefit for stable chest pain when compared to a placebo. This controversial finding could influence how doctors treat their cardiac patients. getAbstract recommends this article to those interested in the pursuit of scientific truth.

Take-Aways

  • Stents save patients’ lives when inserted during a heart attack.
  • A study known as ORBITA found that stents do not appear to help people with stable chest pain.
  • The placebo effect of receiving a medical intervention could account for the study’s result.

About the Author

Ethan Weiss, MD, is a cardiologist and associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco.


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