Abstract
(1) Background: In November 2017, medical cannabis was legalized in Poland. Until now, there have been no studies conducted to examine the perspectives of Polish physicians about their preferences regarding medical cannabis legal status and educational needs. (2) Methods: The survey was a self-developed online questionnaire with 57 participants. Participation was voluntary. The link was shared through a personal network of medical doctors, regional medical chambers, and with doctors attending palliative care courses organized by our research group. Results: Between June and October 2020, 173 HCPs from Poland completed the survey. More than half of the study participants never received any education on medical cannabis (60.1%); 71.1% declared their knowledge was insufficient to counsel patients about medical cannabis use. The majority claimed that they would like to be able to answer patient questions (92.4%); 93.1% declared a need to create clear guidelines for using cannabinoids in clinical practice. Furthermore, 71.7% believed that medicines containing cannabinoids and 52.0% that herbal cannabis should be reimbursed (3). Conclusion: Most medical doctors do not feel prepared for patient counseling. They could benefit from targeted educational interventions. We have also identified physicians’ preferences that might inspire the stakeholders involved who are critical for shaping policies regarding cannabis-based therapeutics.
Highlights
On the 1 November 2017, the legal status of herbal cannabis in Poland changed
As the medical cannabis market grows in Poland, it becomes essential to understand physicians’ perspectives on this controversial topic
We found a legitimate need to provide educational interventions to train medical professionals in medical applications of cannabinoids and the physiological basis of their mode of action
Summary
On the 1 November 2017, the legal status of herbal cannabis in Poland changed. It became legal as a pharmaceutical raw material for preparing prescription drugs material under the Act of Counteracting Drug Addiction in Poland [1]. Several strains are available in Poland, with varying THC: CBD (tetrahydrocannabinol: cannabidiol) ratio and terpenoid and flavonoid profile. Oromucosal spray with THC, i.e., a CBD ratio close to 1:1, is registered in Poland for symptom improvement in auld patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to MS (multiple sclerosis) [2,3]. The Ministry of Health (MoH) did not grant the refund to any medicine containing cannabinoids, which means that the patients pay the total, relatively high cost of treatment. There were only a few exceptions where patients were granted financing from MoH through a compassionate use program
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