Who is asking about medicinal cannabis in palliative care?

Intern Med J. 2020 Feb;50(2):243-246. doi: 10.1111/imj.14732.

Abstract

Following legislative changes in the availability and prescribing of medicinal cannabis in Australia, we sought to understand prospectively the nature of information seeking and requests for medicinal cannabis in consultations between palliative care clinicians and patients with cancer. The 104 discussions were overwhelmingly initiated by patients and carers (93%) and were for a variety of symptoms, reflecting high levels of patient interest in the use of medicinal cannabis in cancer.

Keywords: cancer; carer; medicinal cannabis; palliative care; patient.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Australia
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Information Seeking Behavior
  • Male
  • Medical Marijuana / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Palliative Care / methods*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Medical Marijuana