A new study is going straight to healthcare workers in the U.S. and Canada to get their input on their experiences with and advice about medical cannabis.

The exploration is part of a recently announced study that will involve the Cannabis Center of Excellence, Inc. (CCOE), Medicinal Genomics and the University of Massachusetts’ Dartmouth Charlton College of Business, Cannabis Science and Technology reports.

The aptly named “Healthcare Provider Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices Related to Medical Cannabis Research Study” will collect information from practising healthcare providers “about their experiences with medicinal cannabis in their practices, prior education around the topic and interest in future clinical education related to medical cannabis,” notes an earlier CCOE announcement.

Dr. Marion McNabb, president of CCOE, points out that even “the basics of the endocannabinoid system, medical cannabis benefits and risks, and approaches to integrating medical cannabis use” are not part of the regular curriculum for most health professionals, Cannabis Science and Technology reports. This includes those in medical, nursing, dental, public health, emergency medicine and addiction and recovery, Dr. McNabb says.

As evidence regarding the efficacy of cannabis continues to emerge and actual use in treatment snowballing, “this study seeks to hear from healthcare providers themselves about what they know and want to know about medical cannabis, and how its use can be integrated into their practices,” she adds.

A research paper published in 2019 found that 58.1 per cent of health providers surveyed strongly or somewhat agree that medical cannabis is a legitimate medical therapy. Still, “provider knowledge gaps about the effectiveness of medical cannabis for state-designated qualifying conditions need to be addressed, and accurate information about the potential for drug interactions needs to be disseminated to address provider concerns,” study authors wrote.

“This study seeks to hear from healthcare providers themselves about what they know and want to know about medical cannabis, and how its use can be integrated into their practices.” / PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

“Standardized education could ensure that health care professionals are prepared to responsibly promote the use of cannabis when indicated for medically appropriate symptoms and conditions,” added another study.

But a lot of catch-up is needed. Just last month, an Israeli study indicated medical students there feel unprepared despite being more supportive of using medical cannabis to treat pain than their counterparts in Thailand.

In its earlier announcement, CCOE reported that the study, which is supported by Super Critical Labs, “is approved for human subjects research by the UMass Dartmouth Institutional Review Board.” The anonymous survey, which will be available from May 5, 2021 to May 5, 2022, will take about 12 minutes for healthcare workers to complete.

As principal investigator, Dr. McNabb will be joined by 15 co-investigators, including “researchers, clinicians and veterans representing a variety of backgrounds, diversity and expertise,” Cannabis Science and Technology adds.

It is anticipated preliminary study results will be available in October and an update next May.