The main objective of PANACEA was to contribute to reducing the gap between placebo and nocebo scientific evidence and clinical practice of the future, i.e., HE students in healthcare sciences, and of current healthcare professionals. The project aimed to develop evidence-based learning materials, clinical recommendations, a syllabus, and a web app to support students, educators, and healthcare professionals. Specific objectives included: providing HE students in healthcare sciences and current healthcare professionals with knowledge and competences about placebo and nocebo mechanisms and their effects on clinical outcomes and assisting practitioners in clinical practice; supporting medical HE institutions in enriching student’s curricula with a specific course on placebo and nocebo effects; and establishing and enhancing an effective student-centred active learning method on placebo and nocebo effects. Ultimately, PANACEA aimed to contribute to more equitable, effective, and patient-centred healthcare.
The PANACEA project responds to urgent educational needs arising from placebo and nocebo effects, phenomena that substantially affect clinical outcomes. Despite robust scientific evidence, a large gap persists between research and routine clinical practice. Current and future healthcare professionals often lack the knowledge, skills, and confidence to ethically harness placebo effects, reduce nocebo effects, and communicate clearly about expectations, risks, and treatment rationale. Many have only partial understanding, sometimes use placebo mechanisms without full awareness, and underestimate their role in optimising or mitigating these effects. Teaching in HE is fragmented and often framed as an experimental pharmacology paradigm, while HE educators lack structured pedagogical support. There is also a growing need for digital, learner-centred tools to enhance flexibility and engagement. PANACEA addressed these needs by producing evidence-based, learner-centred training and digital resources that translate research into practical, ethical guidance to improve communication, patient-centred care, clinical decision-making, and the optimal implementation and regulation of placebo and nocebo effects in clinical practice.