Abstract
Limited research has been conducted about the perspectives of oncology health care providers (hcps) concerning the use of cannabis in cancer care and their potential role in advising patients. We sought to determine the barriers encountered by hcps with respect to medical cannabis and their preferred practices in this area. An anonymous survey about cannabis was distributed to oncology hcps at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta. The 45-question survey measured the opinions of hcps about cannabis use and authorization in oncology. Of 103 oncology hcps who participated in the study, 75% were women. By hcp type, the most commonly reported professional groups were oncology nurse (40%), radiation therapist (9%), and pharmacist (6%). Of respondents, 75% reported providing direct care to cancer patients. More than half (69%) had spoken to a patient about cannabis in the preceding month, and 84% believed that they lacked sufficient knowledge about cannabis to make recommendations. Barriers such as monitoring the patient's use of cannabis (54%), prescribing an accurate dose (61%) or strain (53%), and having insufficient research (50%) were most commonly reported. More than half of hcps (53%) would be interested in receiving more information or training about the use of cannabis in oncology. The survey indicated that this group of oncology hcps believed that they lacked sufficient knowledge about cannabis to make recommendations to patients. In addition to that lack of knowledge, a number of notable barriers were reported, and more than half the hcps indicated interest in learning more about cannabis in the future.
Highlights
Cannabis sativa is a pharmacologically complex plant, containing more than 100 different cannabinoid compounds[1]
The survey indicated that this group of oncology hcps believed that they lacked sufficient knowledge about cannabis to make recommendations to patients
E199 those who discourage its use in oncology[4]. Another recent study found that only 30% of oncologists believe that they have sufficient knowledge to make recommendations to patients about cannabis use, the same study found that 80% of oncologists had spoken to a patient about cannabis and that 46% had made at least 1 cannabis-based recommendation to a patient in the month preceding the study[10]
Summary
Cannabis sativa is a pharmacologically complex plant, containing more than 100 different cannabinoid compounds[1]. A qualitative study found that the opinions of oncology experts about cannabis are divided between those who support and e199 those who discourage its use in oncology[4] Another recent study found that only 30% of oncologists believe that they have sufficient knowledge to make recommendations to patients about cannabis use, the same study found that 80% of oncologists had spoken to a patient about cannabis and that 46% had made at least 1 cannabis-based recommendation to a patient in the month preceding the study[10]. Limited research has been conducted about the perspectives of oncology health care providers (hcps) concerning the use of cannabis in cancer care and their potential role in advising patients. We sought to determine the barriers encountered by hcps with respect to medical cannabis and their preferred practices in this area
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