| Description |
The use of cannabis is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative medicine, and currently in the United States sales of cannabis are in the billions of dollars (Malka, 2022). Although cannabis is well-tolerated and widely used for medical purposes around the world, it remains the center of much controversy and argument (Meuche, 2017). Researchers continue to perform studies that indicate the potential benefits of cannabinoid therapy for palliative and end of life care patients specifically (Good, et al., 2019). It is estimated that one in five patients will ask their medical provider about the use of cannabis for medicine (Malka, 2022). Several common themes have emerged in studies of providers' beliefs, reflecting the need for further education (Malka, 2022). These themes include little familiarity with state cannabis programs, knowledge gaps regarding qualifying medical conditions, hesitancy with recommending due to concerns about legality and addiction, and lack of guidance about dosing and risks (Malka, 2022). Variability in provider responses reflects the need for more research and consensus building to inform evidence-based clinical guidelines for cannabis use in medicine (Gali et al., 2020). Americans have increased interest on cannabis, and their political attitudes on the subject are shifting, yet many providers do not know the risks and benefits of cannabis use in cancer care. Researchers should take steps to understand current use patterns and to develop accurate and informative education for medical providers (Pergam et al., 2017). The object of this project is to help medical providers and healthcare workers in hospice and palliative care settings feel comfortable about their understanding of medical cannabis. This is a worthwhile goal whether or not these providers end up recommending cannabis to patients. Study participants were given a pre- and post-educational survey and the results demonstrated that only 20% of participants initially felt comfortable explaining the potential benefits of medical cannabis. After the educational module, a post-test revealed that over 92% of providers felt like they benefitted from the module and would feel comfortable explaining the potential benefits as well as the side effects of medical cannabis. Furthermore, pretest results showed that over 55% of participants did not know the qualifying medical conditions in the State of Utah. Post-test survey revealed that 93% of participants understand conditions that their patients may qualify for. Provider awareness of qualifying medical conditions is a foundational part of helping patients who could benefit from medical cannabis get the treatment they need. Support from providers can encourage patients to go outside the box of mainstream medicine. |
