Attitudes Toward and Acceptability of Medical Marijuana Use Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Marc Levin; Han Zhang; Michael K Gupta

doi:10.1177/00034894211072624

Attitudes Toward and Acceptability of Medical Marijuana Use Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2023 Jan;132(1):13-18. doi: 10.1177/00034894211072624. Epub 2022 Jan 29.

Authors

Marc Levin¹, Han Zhang², Michael K Gupta²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

PMID: 35094599
DOI: 10.1177/00034894211072624

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to understand the attitudes toward marijuana in HNC patients.

Methods: A 17-question questionnaire regarding medical marijuana (MM) was distributed to HNC patients at a tertiary cancer center.

Results: 63 HNC patients completed the questionnaire. Patients that had used or were using marijuana described benefit with symptoms of headache, pain, nausea, and loss of appetite. 83% of all patients considered marijuana as treatment for cancer related pain and 67% as treatment for cancer related anxiety. About 70% of patients actively undergoing cancer treatment believed marijuana medications would help with symptoms during treatment.

Conclusions: By understanding how HNC patients perceive MM, HNC teams may be able to prescribe and educate their patients on MM.

Keywords: cannabis; head and neck cancer; medical marijuana; patient questionnaire; quality of life.

MeSH terms

Anxiety / etiology
Attitude
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / complications
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Humans
Medical Marijuana* / therapeutic use
Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

Medical Marijuana