Surveys of pharmacy students and pharmacy educators regarding medical marijuana.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, a cohort of Ohio pharmacy students were surveyed about knowledge and attitudes regarding medical marijuana (MMJ). Pharmacy educators in legalized states were asked how MMJ education was incorporated into pharmacy curricula. METHODS: Pharmacy students from six colleges were emailed surveys. Pharmacy educators from 79 colleges in states with legal MMJ programs were emailed regarding curricular content covering MMJ. RESULTS: A total of 319 student respondents received scores between 50 and 60% on knowledge-based questions. Students favored legalization of medical, but not recreational marijuana; they are not confident in ability to counsel; they believe little education on MMJ is provided in pharmacy school; and feel that more education is needed on MMJ. Students supporting MMJ were more likely to support recreational use of marijuana (p < 0.001), and education about MMJ (p < 0.001). Students in advanced years were less willing to dispense medical marijuana (p < 0.01), and less likely to support pharmacist availability for counseling (p < 0.05). Sixty-two percent of colleges who responded to the survey in legalized states provided education on MMJ to pharmacy students. Sixty-four percent of colleges responding who provided MMJ education offered a required course; 84.6% educated on indications and misuse/abuse; 92.3% on side effects, and adverse drug reactions; 53.8% on drug interactions. CONCLUSION: Ohio pharmacy student knowledge regarding medical marijuana is low. Students believe pharmacists should be available for counseling on MMJ; they feel unprepared to dispense MMJ, and would like more education on MMJ. Some colleges of pharmacy in the US report providing MMJ education; extent is unknown.

Parental exposure to medical radiation and neuroblastoma in offspring.

Previous studies have suggested an association between parental medical radiation exposure and increased incidence of certain childhood cancers. We investigated the relationship between medical radiation and risk of neuroblastoma in offspring using data from a North American case-control study. Cases were children diagnosed with neuroblastoma from 1 May 1992, to 30 April 1994, at Children's Cancer Group and Pediatric Oncology Group institutions throughout the United States and Canada. One matched control per case was selected using random-digit dialling. Telephone interviews were conducted with parents to collect data on any medical radiation examinations and treatments in the 2 years before conception or during pregnancy. We included 500 maternal and 339 paternal matched pairs. Overall, no association was found between maternal exposure to radiation and neuroblastoma risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7, 1.3). Analysis of maternal exposure by specific anatomical site showed no association for gonadal sites [OR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.5, 2.0]. Little association was found with paternal radiation exposure [OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 0.8, 1.8]. No consistent exposure-response gradient was found based upon the number of maternal or paternal medical radiation examinations. The data presented here, coupled with the lower radiation doses currently used, indicate that any further study of this question will require larger studies with improved exposure assessment.