RESUMEN
Background: Since cannabis has been legalized in Canada for medicinal and recreational use, there has been an increased demand on pharmacists for cannabis counselling. The aim of the study was to examine typical questions posed by consumers to managers and budtenders working at licensed recreational cannabis stores in Canada and to assess how often consumers seek unlicensed medical advice to treat various conditions using cannabis. Methods: An online survey was synthesized, consisting of 22 questions capturing demographics and Likert scale responses to survey questions, and was distributed online across Canada from January to June 2021. Results: There were 211 survey respondents: 91 budtenders and 120 managers. A total of 87.7% (n = 185) of respondents indicated that they receive questions related to cannabis use for medical purposes and/or perceived medical benefit, with the same number indicating that they have been told by a customer that their physician sent them to obtain a cannabis-containing product for medical purposes. The most common cannabis component asked about in an average day was THC (42% of responses). Conclusion: An alarming proportion of budtenders and managers in Canada report that they are fielding medical cannabis questions. This situation has the potential to put individuals at risk for drug-drug interactions and drug-disease interactions and to increase unnecessary hospitalizations due to adverse effects.
RESUMEN
Background: Medical cannabis has been increasingly used in Canada after being sanctioned by Health Canada in 2001. Insomnia and sleep disorders are among the most common conditions for which patients report using cannabis. Current research shows cannabis may have a beneficial effect in sleep disorders and may improve patient-reported sleep scores. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at Hybrid Pharm community pharmacy in Ottawa, Ontario, and included patients who were interested in, or already using, medical cannabis for sleep disorders. A qualitative, exploratory approach was taken to evaluate the descriptive efficacy and safety of medical cannabis when prescribed for insomnia or comorbid conditions. The comprehensive data collection also involved investigating the impact of cannabis on other medication used for insomnia. Results: A total of 38 patients were identified as having adequate follow-up documentation to assess the impact of medical cannabis. At time of data collection, 15 patients (39%) were able to reduce or completely discontinue a prescription medication indicated for sleep. On follow-up, 27 patients (71%) reported a subjective improvement in their sleep or related condition. Only 8 patients (21%) reported any adverse effects from medical cannabis use, and these were manageable and did not require discontinuation of cannabis. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of a pharmacist's role in the management of cannabis-based therapy, including ongoing supportive care, follow-up and medication management. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2022;155:xx-xx.
RESUMEN
Background: Since cannabis has been legalized in Canada for medical and recreational use, there has been an increased demand on pharmacists for cannabis counselling. The objective of this study was to determine the concerns, beliefs and attitudes of Canadian pharmacists and pharmacy students towards using cannabis. Methods: An online survey was synthesized under 3 broad themes: concerns, beliefs and attitudes about cannabis, consisting of 27 questions capturing demographics and Likert scale responding to survey questions. We examined whether there were differences in responses by geographic location (i.e., Ontario, Quebec, Canada), sex or practice setting (i.e., community, hospital). Results: Across Canada, there were 654 survey respondents, with 399 in Ontario and 95 in Quebec. Approximately 24% indicated they had used cannabis since legalization, 69% indicated they believed cannabis should be available for medical and recreational use and 34% indicated their perceptions towards cannabis had become more positive since legalization. Relative to Quebec or the rest of Canada, respondents from Ontario were significantly more likely to be comfortable providing counselling to and answering questions of patients on the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis use. Examining sex differences across Canada, male respondents were more comfortable than female counselling patients on the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis. Conclusion: The current results reinforce the perceived need by pharmacists and pharmacy students for targeted education, and future research in cannabis education should consider potential gender differences in attitudes and beliefs surrounding cannabis therapy.