A Cross-Sectional Survey of Cannabis Use by People with MS in Oregon and Southwest Washington

Introduction: Between 2013 and 2019, Illinois limited cannabis access to certified patients enrolled in the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program (IMCP). In 2016, the state instituted a fast-track pathway for terminal patients. The benefits of medicinal cannabis (MC) have clear implications for patients near end-of-life (EOL). However, little is known about how terminal patients engage medical cannabis relative to supportive care. Methods: Anonymous cross-sectional survey data were collected from 342 terminal patients who were already enrolled in ( n = 19) or planning to enroll ( n = 323) in hospice for EOL care. Logistic regression models compare patients in the sample on hospice planning vs. hospice enrollment, use of palliative care vs. hospice care, and use standard care vs non-hospice palliative care. Results: In our sample, cancer patients ( OR = 0.21 (0.11), p < .01), and those who used the fast-track application into the IMCP ( OR = 0.11 (0.06), p < .001) were less likely to be enrolled in hospice. Compared to patients in palliative care, hospice patients were less likely to report cancer as their qualifying condition ( OR = 0.16 (0.11), p < .01), or entered the IMCP via the fast-track ( OR = 0.23 (0.15), p < .05). Discussion: Given low hospice enrollment in a fairly large EOL sample, cannabis use may operate as an alternative to supportive forms of care like hospice and palliation. Clinicians should initiate conversations about cannabis use with their patients while also engaging EOL Care planning discussions as an essential part of the general care plan.

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ASSESSING HEALTH-RELATED OUTCOMES OF MEDICAL CANNABIS USE AMONG OLDER PERSONS IN COLORADO AND ILLINOIS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.738 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S204-S204 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J Alton Croker ◽

Julie Bobitt ◽

Kanika Arora ◽

Brian Kaskie

Keyword(s):

Older Persons ◽

Sleep Disturbances ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Medical Cannabis ◽

Treatment Needs ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Specific Patient ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Health Related

Abstract The use of cannabis is increasing among older Americans. A growing body of evidence shows cannabis and cannabinoids effective for treating chronic pain, spasticity, nausea, and sleep disturbances. States seeking to respond to the treatment needs of specific patient populations have legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Few instruments offer standard outcomes for understanding the use of medial cannabis from the patient perspective, particularly focusing on older persons. Using cross-sectional survey data from a sample of older persons in Colorado and Illinois, we validate two scales to consistently measure patient-reported health related outcomes of medical cannabis use. We confirmed the validity of two separate, reliable outcome scales: a three-factor scale for measuring global health outcomes and a single-factor scale for capturing adverse health events. The COPS questionnaire revealed strong construct validity and internal consistency, and a lack of meaningful factor variance.

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Cross-sectional survey of complementary and alternative medicine used in Oregon and Southwest Washington to treat multiple sclerosis: A 17-Year update

Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.msard.2020.102041 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 102041 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elizabeth Silbermann ◽

Angela Senders ◽

Lindsey Wooliscroft ◽

Jessica Rice ◽

Michelle Cameron ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Complementary And Alternative ◽

Southwest Washington

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Childhood sexual abuse and psychosis: data from a cross-sectional national psychiatric survey in England

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.110.083642 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 199 (1) ◽

pp. 29-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 166

Author(s):

Paul Bebbington ◽

Sarah Jonas ◽

Elizabeth Kuipers ◽

Michael King ◽

Claudia Cooper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽

Psychiatric Morbidity ◽

Population Attributable Risk ◽

Population Sample ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional

BackgroundA number of studies in a range of samples attest a link between childhood sexual abuse and psychosis.AimsTo use data from a large representative general population sample (Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007) to test hypotheses that childhood sexual abuse is linked to psychosis, and that the relationship is consistent with mediation by revictimisation experiences, heavy cannabis use, anxiety and depression.MethodThe prevalence of psychosis was established operationally in a representative cross-sectional survey of the adult household population of England (n = 7353). Using computer-assisted self-interview, a history of various forms of sexual abuse was established, along with the date of first abuse.ResultsSexual abuse before the age of 16 was strongly associated with psychosis, particularly if it involved non-consensual sexual intercourse (odds ratio (OR) = 10.14, 95% CI 4.8–21.3, population attributable risk fraction 14%). There was evidence of partial mediation by anxiety and depression, but not by heavy cannabis use nor revictimisation in adulthood.ConclusionsThe association between childhood sexual abuse and psychosis was large, and may be causal. These results have important implications for the nature and aetiology of psychosis, for its treatment and for primary prevention.

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Medical Cannabis Use Is Associated With Decreased Opiate Medication Use in a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Survey of Patients With Chronic Pain

Journal of Pain ◽

10.1016/j.jpain.2016.03.002 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 739-744 ◽

Cited By ~ 144

Author(s):

Kevin F. Boehnke ◽

Evangelos Litinas ◽

Daniel J. Clauw

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Medication Use ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Medical Cannabis ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional

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Cannabis for pain: a cross-sectional survey of the patient information quality on the Internet

Journal of Cannabis Research ◽

10.1186/s42238-021-00093-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jeremy Y. Ng ◽

Darragh A. Dzisiak ◽

Jessica B. Saini

Keyword(s):

Health Information ◽

Pain Treatment ◽

Consumer Health Information ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Online Information ◽

Consumer Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Cannabis has increasingly become an alternative treatment for chronic pain, however, there is evidence of concomitant negative health effects with its long-term usage. Patients contemplating cannabis use for pain relief commonly see information online but may not be able to identify trustworthy and accurate sources, therefore, it is imperative that healthcare practitioners play a role in assisting them in discerning the quality of information. The present study assesses the quality of web-based consumer health information available at the intersection of cannabis and pain. Methods A cross-sectional quality assessment of website information was conducted. Three countries were searched on Google: Canada, the Netherlands, and the USA. The first 3 pages of generated websites were used in each of the 9 searches. Eligible websites contained cannabis consumer health information for pain treatment. Only English-language websites were included. Encyclopedias (i.e. Wikipedia), forums, academic journals, general news websites, major e-commerce websites, websites not publicly available, books, and video platforms were excluded. Information presented on eligible websites were assessed using the DISCERN instrument. The DISCERN instrument consists of three sections, the first focusing on the reliability of the publication, the second investigating individual aspects of the publication, and the third providing an overall averaged score. Results Of 270 websites identified across searches, 216 were duplicates, and 18 were excluded based on eligibility criteria, resulting in 36 eligible websites. The average summed DISCERN score was 48.85 out of 75.00 (SD = 8.13), and the average overall score (question 16) was 3.10 out of 5.00 (SD = 0.62). These overall scores were calculated from combining the scores for questions 1 through 15 in the DISCERN instrument for each website. Websites selling cannabis products/services scored the lowest, while health portals scored the highest. Conclusion These findings indicate that online cannabis consumer health information for the treatment/management of pain presents biases to readers. These biases included websites: (1) selectively citing studies that supported the benefits associated with cannabis use, while neglecting to mention those discussing its risks, and (2) promoting cannabis as “natural” with the implication that this equated to “safe”. Healthcare providers should be involved in the guidance of patients’ seeking and use of online information on this topic.

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Medical cannabis use in the Australian community following introduction of legal access: The 2018-2019 Online Cross-Sectional Cannabis as Medicine Survey (CAMS-18)

10.21203/rs.2.24266/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nicholas Lintzeris ◽

Llewellyn Mills ◽

Anastasia Suraev ◽

Maria Bravo ◽

Thomas Arkell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Online Survey ◽

Medical Profession ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Medical Cannabis ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Plant Matter

Abstract Background: In 2016 the Australian federal government passed legislation enabling a range of cannabis-based products to be prescribed to patients by registered healthcare professionals. An online survey conducted immediately prior to these legislative changes found that the vast majority of respondents at the time were illicitly sourcing cannabis plant matter, smoking was the preferred route of administration, and mental health, chronic pain, and sleep conditions were the most frequently cited reasons for medical cannabis use. This manuscript reports the results of a follow-up survey conducted in 2018-2019, the Cannabis As Medicine Survey (CAMS-18). The goal of this second questionnaire was to examine patterns of use and consumer perspectives regarding medical cannabis use in Australia, two years after the introduction of legal access pathways. Methods: Anonymous online cross-sectional survey with convenience sample, recruited mainly through online media between September 2018 and March 2019. Participants were adults (18 years or over) residing in Australia who reported using a cannabis product for self-identified therapeutic reasons during the preceding 12 months. The survey measured consumer characteristics; indications and patterns of medical cannabis use; routes and frequency of administration; perceived benefits and harms; experiences and preferred models of access to medical cannabis. Results: Data were available for 1388 respondents. The main categories of condition being treated with medical cannabis were pain (36.4%), mental health (32.8%), sleep (9.2%), neurological (5.2%) and cancer (3.8%). Respondents reported using medical cannabis on 15.8 (11.2) days in the past 28, by inhaled (71.4%) or oral (26.5%) routes and spending AUD$82.27 ($101.27) per week. There were high levels of self-reported effectiveness, but also high rates of side effects. There was uncertainty regarding the composition of illicit cannabinoid products and concerns regarding their possible contamination. Few respondents (2.7%) had accessed legally prescribed medical cannabis, with the main perceived barriers being cost, disinterest from the medical profession, and stigma regarding cannabis use. Conclusions: Chronic pain, mental health and sleep remain the main clinical conditions for which consumers report using medical cannabis. Despite two years of legal availability, most consumers in Australia reported accessing illicit cannabis products, with uncertainty regarding the quality or composition of cannabis products.

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Patterns and Correlates of Cannabis Use among Individuals with HIV/AIDS in Maritime Canada

Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology ◽

10.1155/2014/301713 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. e1-e7 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Gregory E Harris ◽

Lise Dupuis ◽

Gerald J Mugford ◽

Lynn Johnston ◽

David Haase ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Income Level ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Driving Under The Influence ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cannabis Consumption ◽

Medicinal Cannabis ◽

Maritime Canada ◽

Almost All

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cannabis use in HIV-infected individuals is high and its long-term effects are unclear.METHODS: The prevalence, perceived benefits and consequences, and predictors of cannabis use were studied using a cross-sectional survey in two immunodeficiency clinics in Maritime Canada.RESULTS: Current cannabis use was identified in 38.5% (87 of 226) of participants. Almost all cannabis users (85 of 87 [97.7%]) acknowledged its use for recreational purposes, with 21.8% (19 of 87) reporting medicinal cannabis use. The majority of patients enrolled in the present study reported mild or no symptoms related to HIV (n=179). Overall, 80.5% (70 of 87) of the cannabis-using participants reported a symptom-relieving benefit, mostly for relief of stress, anorexia or pain. Participants consumed a mean (± SD) of 18.3±21.1 g of cannabis per month and spent an average of $105.15±109.87 on cannabis per month. Cannabis use was associated with rural residence, lower income level, driving under the influence of a substance, and consumption of ecstasy and tobacco. Income level, ecstasy use and tobacco use were retained as significant predictors in regression modelling. Cannabis use was not associated with adverse psychological outcomes.DISCUSSION: Prolonged previous cannabis consumption and the substantial overlap between recreational and medicinal cannabis use highlight the challenges in obtaining a tenable definition of medicinal cannabis therapy.

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