Canna~Fangled Abstracts

Attitudes and Knowledge About Cannabis and Cannabis-Based Therapies Among US Neurologists, Nurses, and Pharmacists

By May 19, 2020May 23rd, 2020No Comments

doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107102.

Online ahead of print.
Affiliations

Abstract

Use of cannabinoid therapies is on the rise in the United States, but responses of healthcare professionals and their knowledge of these therapies have been mixed. More information is needed about factors associated with healthcare professionals’ attitudes and knowledge about medical cannabis. We conducted an online survey of US-based neurologists, nurse practitioners (NPs)/nurses, and pharmacists in August-September of 2018 (n = 451). We constructed perceived knowledge and attitudes scales and a knowledge index from multiple items and assessed state cannabis laws, participant’s sociodemographics, workplace type and policies, and patient population. We used ordinary least-squares regression to examine associations among study variables. Over 80% of participants supported use and legalization of medical cannabis, especially cannabidiol (CBD) for epilepsy and when prescribed by a medical provider, but 40-50% (depending on item) felt unfamiliar with cannabinoid pharmacology and clinical applications. A total of 43% favored legal recreational cannabis. Pharmacists scored higher on the knowledge test than neurologists and NPs/nurses, but NPs/nurses had more favorable attitudes than neurologists and higher perceived knowledge than pharmacists. Both knowledge indicators predicted attitudes. State cannabis access and favorable workplace policies were associated with higher knowledge and more favorable attitudes. Healthcare professionals see potential in cannabis therapies but report significant knowledge gaps. Professional cannabinoid education is needed to address growing patient and provider demand for knowledge about cannabinoid therapies.

 

Keywords: Attitudes, Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabis, Healthcare professionals, Knowledge, Survey

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest MS – Research funding and consulting fees from Greenwich Biosciences, Inc. PM – Research funding from Greenwich Biosciences, Inc. Consultant, advisory speaker, and advisor for Greenwich Biosciences, Eisai, Supernus, Sunovion, Mallinkrodt, and Liva Nova. HL – Employed by Canopy Health Innovations. JPS – Research funding: NIH, NSF, Shor Foundation for Epilepsy Research, Department of Defense, UCB Pharma Inc., NeuroPace Inc., Greenwich Biosciences Inc., Biogen Inc., Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Serina Therapeutics Inc., and Eisai, Inc. Consulting/Advisory Boards: SAGE Therapeutics Inc., Greenwich Biosciences Inc., NeuroPace, Inc., Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc., Medical Association of the State of AL, Serina Therapeutics Inc., LivaNova Inc., UCB Pharma Inc., Lundbeck, SK LifeSciences, and Elite Medical Experts LLC. Editorial board member for Epilepsy & Behavior, Journal of Epileptology (associate editor), Epilepsy & Behavior Reports (associate editor), Journal of Medical Science, Epilepsy Currents (contributing editor), and Folia Medica Copernicana. Eric Segal – Consulting/Advisory: Zogenix, Neurelis, Greenwich Biosciences, Encoded, Aquestive, Celgene. Speaker: Eisai, Novartis, Greenwich Biosciences, Nutria, Lundbeck. LC and DB declare no conflicts of interest.

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