MedPath

Placebo Development and Validation for Healing Water

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Balneology
Registration Number
NCT04290143
Lead Sponsor
University of Pecs
Brief Summary

The study aimed to develop and validate an easy-to use cheap method capable of producing placebo from tap water.

Detailed Description

Introduction: The beneficial health effects of healing waters have been reported by numerous studies. However, the lack of proper placebo substance makes the "medication-like" investigation of healing waters difficult. The investigators aimed to develop and validate an easy-to use cheap method capable of producing placebo from tap water.

Methods: Both medical water and tap water will be colored. The temperature and the pH of the tap water will be adjusted to the temperature pH of the healing water. The patients will be divided into two groups, colored healing water and placebo group. A single 20 minutes-long treatment will be performed in bath tubs. Considering the healing waters odor, the treatment will be given in the same room. Patients will be asked to tell whether they are treated with colored healing water or placebo or could not tell. Questions will be asked before the treatment, 10 minutes after the beginning of the treatment, immediately after the end of the treatment and after shower. The study will be performed in a double blind setup. Patients will be scored, one point for each correct answer.

Target patient number:174

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
174
Inclusion Criteria
  • willingness to participate in the study
  • age between 18-80 years
Exclusion Criteria
  • patients physically unable to enter or exit the bath tub
  • autoimmune diseases
  • any kind of malignity
  • acute inflammation
  • infection
  • acute coronary syndrome or recent surgical interventions (6 month before enrollment)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of participants who responded 'placebo,' to question 1prior to treatment

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded ' could not tell' to question 1prior to treatment

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded ' could not tell' to question 210 minutes after the beginning of treatment

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded 'colored healing water' to question 1prior to treatment

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded 'placebo,' to question 210 minutes after the beginning of treatment

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded 'colored healing water' to question 210 minutes after the beginning of treatment

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded 'placebo,' to question 3Immediately after the end of the treatment

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded 'colored healing water' to question 3Immediately after the end of the treatment

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded ' could not tell' to question 3Immediately after the end of the treatment

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded 'placebo,' to question 4After taking a sower (within 15 minutes after the end of the treatment)

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded 'colored healing water' to question 4After taking a sower (within 15 minutes after the end of the treatment)

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Number of participants who responded ' could not tell' to question 4After taking a sower (within 15 minutes after the end of the treatment)

The measurement is performed by a questionnaire filled in accordingly by an investigator

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Harkány Thermal Rehabilitation Centre

🇭🇺

Harkány, Baranya, Hungary

Katalin Dr Szendi

🇭🇺

Pécs, Baranya, Hungary

Harkány Thermal Rehabilitation Centre
🇭🇺Harkány, Baranya, Hungary

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.