Study Suggests Medical Professionals Feel Underprepared to Discuss Medical Cannabis with Patients

A recent study suggests that medical practitioners in the U.S. feel underprepared to discuss medical cannabis with patients. A study published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids in May suggests that medical professionals in the U.S. feel underprepared to discuss medical cannabis with patients.  

The study found that nearly all of the emergency and family medicine physicians surveyed agreed that there is a need for more medical cannabis education. The majority of emergency medicine physicians surveyed said medical cannabis is valuable for chronic pain and nausea and vomiting management, while family medicine physicians were more skeptical of its benefits. Medical cannabis use with pregnant and pediatric patients was seen unfavorably. 

Oncologists surveyed reported that medical cannabis is most useful for nausea, severe pain, loss of appetite, and depression, and most reported medical cannabis as acceptable for pediatric cancer patients. However, few felt it was favorable for patients over the age of 65. 

The survey also found that most dermatologists recommended medical cannabis for topical applications, with the most common conditions treated with medical cannabis being psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and similar conditions. 

Most physicians surveyed viewed medical cannabis as harmful for patients with congenital heart disease, and stigma associated with medical cannabis use was reported by neurologists for its use for epilepsy. The lack of education on risks was seen as a barrier to perinatal counseling, and the primary approach stated by those surveyed was discussions on legal repercussions or child protective services involvement. 

Fewer than half of the included palliative care and hospice physicians reported recommending medical cannabis, though most reported it as helpful for various end-of-life care treatments. 

The researchers recommended, “Implementing clear clinical practice guidelines, further education on these drugs in clinical curriculums, and enhancing continuing education offerings would improve prescriber confidence.”