ArticleCMAJ open
Prevalence and determinants of cannabinoid prescription for the management of chronic noncancer pain: a postal survey of physicians in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec.
Article in CMAJ open. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Physicians' experiences, attitudes, and beliefs towards medical cannabis: a systematic literature review.BMC family practice · 2021Pooled it
- Simplified guideline for prescribing medical cannabinoids in primary care.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2018Guideline
- Systematic review of systematic reviews for medical cannabinoids: Pain, nausea and vomiting, spasticity, and harms.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2018Pooled it
- Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFew studies have been conducted to explore physicians' prescription practices and attitudes toward the use of cannabinoids in Canada.We measured the prevalence and identified determinants of cannabinoid prescription for the management of chronic noncancer pain among physicians in southwestern Quebec.
methodsIn February 2013, we conducted a postal survey using a modified Dillman method that involved physicians practising in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec. We used multivariate logistic regression models to identify determinants of cannabinoid prescription.
resultsA total of 166 physicians of 318 practising in the region participated in the survey (response rate 52.2%). The prevalence of cannabinoid prescription was 27.3% (45/165) for any indication and 23.0% (38/165) for the management of chronic noncancer pain; 91.1% (41/45) of the physicians prescribed cannabinoids to 5 or fewer patients. Of the 38 physicians who prescribed cannabinoids for chronic noncancer pain, 35 (92.1%) prescribed nabilone, 7 (18.4%) medical marijuana and 2 (5.3%) nabiximols. The principal determinant of cannabinoid prescription was the physician's level of comfort with prescribing cannabinoids (adjusted odds ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.55, per 1-point increase in comfort level measured on 10-point scale). Respondents reported that continuing medical education (CME) activities could increase their comfort level. They also indicated a need for guidelines or algorithms that included cannabinoid use as well as more studies about the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids for the management of chronic noncancer pain.
interpretationWe found that cannabinoids were not often prescribed for the management of chronic noncancer pain and that survey respondents were not comfortable with prescribing this drug class. This degree of discomfort could be addressed by CME activities, more effective dissemination of guidelines and more evidence regarding cannabinoid use for the management of chronic noncancer pain.
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Registered trials
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