Glossary

A placebo is a substance that does not contain any drugs but has the same appearance as a study treatment (same shape, size, colour and taste if it is an oral treatment). It is administered in the same way (orally or by injection). In some cases, for example, in oncology, the placebo may be the standard treatment, which ensures appropriate medical management of participants. For some people, simply receiving a placebo treatment improves their medical condition. This is known as the “placebo effect.” The use of a placebo in one of the groups in a clinical trial allows scientists to evaluate the actual efficacy of the study treatment. The use of a placebo must be approved by a research ethics board, and participants are informed when a placebo is used in a clinical trial.