Right on. Estimate the drug effect. Two sets of individuals: treatment group with the drug and control group without the drug. See the difference in outcomes.
Yes placebo effect does not require the patient to be conscious. If a patient is given an ineffective treatment/drug but they still get better (due to their own immune system, or some other factor ) that is a placebo effect, conscious or not. If doctors think or know that a specific treatment was given it can effect how they treat the patient or assess their status, that is a placebo effect.