scholarly journals Facilitators and Barriers to the Regulation of Medical Cannabis: A Scoping Review of the Peer-Reviewed Literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ali Ruheel ◽  
Zoya Gomes ◽  
Sana Usman ◽  
Pargol Homayouni ◽  
Jeremy Y Ng
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Public Acceptance ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Legislative Reform ◽  
The World ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers

Abstract Background: In recent decades, several political, legislative, and judicial processes around the world have advanced legalization efforts for the use of medical cannabis (MC). As MC usage evolves through legislative reform, with an increase in public acceptance and therapeutic potential, a need exists to further investigate the facilitators and barriers to MC regulation.Methods: A scoping review was conducted to identify the facilitators and barriers associated with the implementation of international MC regulations. MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched. Eligible articles included primary studies that evaluated the MC regulatory framework of one or more countries globally.Results: Twenty-two articles were deemed eligible and included in this review. Themes identified include: (1) effects of conflicts, mindset and ideology of state population, (2) the use of comparisons to analyze MC regulation, and (3) the need for more knowledge, advice and empirical/clinical evidence to inform future MC policies.Conclusion: We identified a number of facilitators and barriers to MC regulation and provide a holistic overview of what factors are proposed to affect MC regulation. In recognizing that the evidence-base surrounding MC, MC usage among patients, and general societal acceptance of MC are all increasing across many parts of the globe, our review allows for relevant stakeholders to better understand these facilitators and barriers to inform future MC policy making.

scholarly journals Facilitators and barriers to the regulation of medical cannabis: a scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ali Ruheel ◽  
Zoya Gomes ◽  
Sana Usman ◽  
Pargol Homayouni ◽  
Jeremy Y. Ng
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Regulatory Environment ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers

Abstract Background In recent decades, several political, legislative, judicial, consumer, and commercial processes around the world have advanced legalization efforts for the use of medical cannabis (MC). As the use of MC evolves through legislative reform, with an increase in public acceptance and therapeutic potential, a need exists to further investigate the facilitators and barriers to MC regulation. Methods A scoping review was conducted to identify the facilitators and barriers associated with the implementation of MC regulations. MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched; no restrictions were placed on geographic location/jurisdiction. Eligible articles included those that evaluated the MC regulatory framework of one or more countries. Results Twenty-two articles were deemed eligible and included in this review. Themes identified include: (1) effects of conflicts, mindset, and ideology of state population, (2) the use of comparisons to analyze MC regulation, and (3) the need for more knowledge, advice, and empirical/clinical evidence to inform future MC policies. Conclusion Policymakers should be aware of facilitators to the MC regulation implementation process, such as the influence of state and federal congruence, increased transparency, and the incorporation of stakeholder concerns, in order to effectively respond to a growing societal acceptance of MC and its use among patients. Given a comprehensive understanding of these influential factors, policymakers may be better equipped to meet the consumer and commercial demands of a rapidly evolving MC regulatory environment.

Therapeutic management of COVID-19 patients: Clinical manifestation and limitations

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urooj Fatima ◽  
Syed Saif Abbas Rizvi ◽  
Neha Raina ◽  
Saher Fatima ◽  
Safikur Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Antiviral Agent ◽  
Therapeutic Options ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Plasma Therapy ◽  
The World ◽  
Control And Prevention

: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory tract infection, accompanied with severe or fatal pneumonia like symptoms and sometime death. It has posed to be an ongoing global health emergency caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Due to a sudden outbreak and a large number of infections and deaths, it became a major concern all over the world. The options available as effective therapeutic, should be urgently exercised to handle this pandemic disease. So far, no specific and accurate anti-SARS-CoV-2 treatment is recommended because of the absence of sufficient clinical evidence. In such cases, the clinical use of available drugs is always considered to be on top priority. A broad-spectrum antiviral agent, Remdesivir is found effective in many cases and recommended by many clinicians in many countries. This drug acts as a potential inhibitor of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase protein, and thus likely to be efficacious in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Tocilizumab is currently recommended by many hospitals as an alternative treatment for critically ill COVID-19 patients. The tocilizumab has been administered to control cytokine storms that occurred due to the release of proinflammatory cytokine including interleukin 6. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were also used in hospitals, to handle severe COVID-19 patients. Currently, plasma therapy has been exercised as a therapeutic alternative, especially to handle severe COVID-19 patients. In addition, herbal medicines are expected to play significant role in the control and prevention of COVID-19. All these therapeutic options have their advantages and limitations. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of these available drugs, along with their mechanism of action and shortcomings. We have provided detailed information on available therapeutic options, which have proved to be effectual in improving clinical symptoms of severe COVID-19 patients.

Water Recycling: Review and Background

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (9-11) ◽  
pp. 1385-1392
Author(s):  
K D Linstedt
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Reuse ◽  
Public Acceptance ◽  
Institutional Constraints ◽  
Water Recycling ◽  
Quality Cost ◽  
The World ◽  
Resource Situation

A review is provided of the world water resource situation. Water reuse is discussed as a means of augmenting conventional supplies, with types of potential reuse applications identified. Considerations of water quality, cost, public acceptance, and institutional constraints are discussed for their impact on decisions regarding implementation of water reuse.

scholarly journals Herbal Preparations of Medical Cannabis: A Vademecum for Prescribing Doctors

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Brunetti ◽  
Simona Pichini ◽  
Roberta Pacifici ◽  
Francesco Paolo Busardò ◽  
Alessandro del Rio
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Abuse Liability ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Herbal Preparations ◽  
Routes Of Administration ◽  
International Agencies ◽  
Medical Indications ◽  
Different Sources

Cannabis has been used for centuries for therapeutic purposes. In the last century, the plant was demonized due to its high abuse liability and supposedly insufficient health benefits. However, recent decriminalization policies and new scientific evidence have increased the interest in cannabis therapeutic potential of cannabis and paved the way for the release of marketing authorizations for cannabis-based products. Although several synthetic and standardized products are currently available on the market, patients’ preferences lean towards herbal preparations, because they are easy to handle and self-administer. A literature search was conducted on multidisciplinary research databases and international agencies or institutional websites. Despite the growing popularity of medical cannabis, little data is available on the chemical composition and preparation methods of medical cannabis extracts. The authors hereby report the most common cannabis preparations, presenting their medical indications, routes of administration and recommended dosages. A practical and helpful guide for prescribing doctors is provided, including suggested posology, titration strategies and cannabinoid amounts in herbal preparations obtained from different sources of medical cannabis.

Primary Crime Prevention Apps: A Typology and Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483802098556
Author(s):  
Mark A. Wood ◽  
Stuart Ross ◽  
Diana Johns
Keyword(s):  
Crime Prevention ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Decision Aid ◽  
English Language ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Initial Sample ◽  
Language Research ◽  
Meta Analyses

In the last decade, an array of smartphone apps have been designed to prevent crime, violence, and abuse. The evidence base of these apps has, however, yet to analyzed systematically. To rectify this, the aims of this review were (1) to establish the extent, range, and nature of research into smartphone apps with a primary crime prevention function; (2) to locate gaps in the primary crime prevention app literature; and (3) to develop a typology of primary crime prevention apps. Employing a scoping review methodology and following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, studies were identified via Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar. We included English-language research published between 2008 and 2020 that examined smartphone applications designed explicitly for primary crime prevention. Sixty-one publications met our criteria for review, out of an initial sample of 151 identified. Our review identified six types of crime prevention app examined in these publications: self-surveillance apps, decision aid apps, child-tracking apps, educational apps, crime-mapping/alert apps, and crime reporting apps. The findings of our review indicate that most of these forms of primary crime prevention apps have yet to be rigorously evaluated and many are not evidence-based in their design. Consequently, our review indicates that recent enthusiasm over primary crime prevention apps is not supported by an adequate evidence base.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Review of the Ethnotraditional Uses and Biological and Pharmacological Potential of the Genus Mimosa

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7463
Author(s):  
Ismat Majeed ◽  
Komal Rizwan ◽  
Ambreen Ashar ◽  
Tahir Rasheed ◽  
Ryszard Amarowicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Web Of Science ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Nutritional Values ◽  
Biological Potential ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Pharmacological Potential

The Mimosa genus belongs to the Fabaceae family of legumes and consists of about 400 species distributed all over the world. The growth forms of plants belonging to the Mimosa genus range from herbs to trees. Several species of this genus play important roles in folk medicine. In this review, we aimed to present the current knowledge of the ethnogeographical distribution, ethnotraditional uses, nutritional values, pharmaceutical potential, and toxicity of the genus Mimosa to facilitate the exploitation of its therapeutic potential for the treatment of human ailments. The present paper consists of a systematic overview of the scientific literature relating to the genus Mimosa published between 1931 and 2020, which was achieved by consulting various databases (Science Direct, Francis and Taylor, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, SciELO, Web of Science, SciFinder, Wiley, Springer, Google, The Plant Database). More than 160 research articles were included in this review regarding the Mimosa genus. Mimosa species are nutritionally very important and several species are used as feed for different varieties of chickens. Studies regarding their biological potential have shown that species of the Mimosa genus have promising pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, wound-healing, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antinociceptive, antiepileptic, neuropharmacological, toxicological, antiallergic, antihyperurisemic, larvicidal, antiparasitic, molluscicidal, antimutagenic, genotoxic, teratogenic, antispasmolytic, antiviral, and antivenom activities. The findings regarding the genus Mimosa suggest that this genus could be the future of the medicinal industry for the treatment of various diseases, although in the future more research should be carried out to explore its ethnopharmacological, toxicological, and nutritional attributes.

scholarly journals Flavor and product messaging are the two most important drivers of electronic cigarette selection in a choice-based task

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison N. Baker ◽  
Stephen J. Wilson ◽  
John E. Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Conjoint Analysis ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Electronic Cigarette ◽  
Food Craving ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Nicotine Level ◽  
Utility Scores

AbstractElectronic cigarette use—vaping—is increasingly popular. Various product factors may influence an individual’s choice of e-cigarette. To provide an evidence base for e-cigarette regulation, a better understanding of the role different product attributes play in product preferences is needed. Here, we used conjoint analysis to quantify different factors that influence e-cigarettes choices, including flavors, nicotine level, customizability, or use of e-cigarettes to manage appetite/food craving. Young adults completed a set of choice-based conjoint tasks online. Choice Based Conjoint analysis (CBC) was used to determine utility scores for each attribute. Young adults (n = 587) who vaped at least once per week were included in analyses; gender differences were explored. Flavor was the most important attribute (48.1%), followed by product messaging (21.0%) and nicotine level (15.3%). Within flavor, confectionery and fruit flavors had the highest utility scores, while classic menthol and tobacco flavors had the lowest. Men and women differed in flavors, nicotine levels, and product messaging that appealed most. Among young adults who vape weekly, flavor is the most important factor in e-cigarette preferences. Gender also factors into e-cigarette preferences, especially for preferred nicotine level. Understanding why individuals choose particular e-cigarette products will help inform public health efforts and policy making.

scholarly journals Digital Contact Tracing Applications during COVID-19: A Scoping Review about Public Acceptance

Informatics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
My Villius Zetterholm ◽  
Yanqing Lin ◽  
Päivi Jokela
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Technical Skills ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Public Acceptance ◽  
National Cultures ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Ethical Justification ◽  
Performance Expectancy ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged

Digital contact tracing applications (CTAs) have been one of the most widely discussed technical methods of controlling the COVID-19 outbreak. The effectiveness of this technology and its ethical justification depend highly on public acceptance and adoption. This study aims to describe the current knowledge about public acceptance of CTAs and identify individual perspectives, which are essential to consider concerning CTA acceptance and adoption. In this scoping review, 25 studies from four continents across the globe are compiled, and critical topics are identified and discussed. The results show that public acceptance varies across national cultures and sociodemographic strata. Lower acceptance among people who are mistrusting, socially disadvantaged, or those with low technical skills suggest a risk that CTAs may amplify existing inequities. Regarding determinants of acceptance, eight themes emerged, covering both attitudes and behavioral perspectives that can influence acceptance, including trust, privacy concerns, social responsibility, perceived health threat, experience of and access to technologies, performance expectancy and perceived benefits, and understanding. Furthermore, widespread misconceptions about the CTA function are a topic in need of immediate attention to ensure the safe use of CTAs. The intention-action gap is another topic in need of more research.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Use in COVID-19 Patients in the First Phase of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 745
Author(s):  
Wenjuan Cong ◽  
Ak Narayan Poudel ◽  
Nour Alhusein ◽  
Hexing Wang ◽  
Guiqing Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Illness ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Clinical Scenarios ◽  
Scoping Reviews ◽  
The Impact

This scoping review provides new evidence on the prevalence and patterns of global antimicrobial use in the treatment of COVID-19 patients; identifies the most commonly used antibiotics and clinical scenarios associated with antibiotic prescribing in the first phase of the pandemic; and explores the impact of documented antibiotic prescribing on treatment outcomes in COVID-19 patients. The review complies with PRISMA guidelines for Scoping Reviews and the protocol is registered with the Open Science Framework. In the first six months of the pandemic, there was a similar mean antibiotic prescribing rate between patients with severe or critical illness (75.4%) and patients with mild or moderate illness (75.1%). The proportion of patients prescribed antibiotics without clinical justification was 51.5% vs. 41.9% for patients with mild or moderate illness and those with severe or critical illness. Comparison of patients who were provided antibiotics with a clinical justification with those who were given antibiotics without clinical justification showed lower mortality rates (9.5% vs. 13.1%), higher discharge rates (80.9% vs. 69.3%), and shorter length of hospital stay (9.3 days vs. 12.2 days). In the first 6 months of the pandemic, antibiotics were prescribed for COVID-19 patients regardless of severity of illness. A large proportion of antibiotic prescribing for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients did not have clinical evidence of a bacterial co-infection. Antibiotics may not be beneficial to COVID-19 patients without clinical evidence of a bacterial co-infection.

scholarly journals Do We Report the Information That Is Necessary to Give Psychology Away? A Scoping Review of the Psychological Intervention Literature 2000–2018

2021 ◽  
pp. 174569162097477
Author(s):  
Bharathy Premachandra ◽  
Neil A. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Psychological Theories ◽  
Potential Reason ◽  
The World ◽  
Current Article

Psychologists are spending a considerable amount of time researching and developing interventions in hopes that their efforts can help to tackle some of society’s pressing problems. Unfortunately, those hopes are often not realized—many interventions are developed and reported in journals but do not make their way into the broader world they were designed to change. One potential reason for this is that there may be a gap between the information reported in articles and the information others, such as practitioners, need to implement the findings. We explored this possibility in the current article. We conducted a scoping review to assess the extent to which the information needed for implementation is reported in psychological intervention articles. Results suggest psychological intervention articles report, at most, 64% of the information needed to implement interventions. We discuss the implications of this for both psychological theories and applying them in the world.

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