Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39144529›Full record

ArticleMedical cannabis and cannabinoids

Medical Cannabis Prescription Practices and Quality of Life in Thai Patients: A Nationwide Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Pramote Stienrut, Krit Pongpirul, Phanupong Phutrakool, Chatuthanai Savigamin, Pim Sermsaksasithorn, Ornpapha Chanhom, Panthakan Jeamjumrus, Pimlada Pongchaichanon, Preecha Nootim, Mala Soisamrong and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medical cannabis and cannabinoids. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Health-related quality of life in patients receiving medicinal cannabis: systematic review and meta-analysis of primary research findings 2015-2025.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Pramote StienrutDepartment of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Krit PongpirulCenter of Excellence in Preventive and Integrative Medicine and Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Phanupong PhutrakoolChula Data Management Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Chatuthanai SavigaminCenter of Excellence in Preventive and Integrative Medicine and Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Pim SermsaksasithornCenter of Excellence in Preventive and Integrative Medicine and Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ornpapha ChanhomDepartment of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Panthakan JeamjumrusDepartment of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Pimlada PongchaichanonDepartment of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Preecha NootimDepartment of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Mala SoisamrongDepartment of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Anchalee ChuthaputtiDepartment of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Kulthanit WanaratnaDepartment of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Tewan ThaneeratDepartment of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: The legalization of cannabis in Thailand has renewed interest in its traditional medical use. This study aimed to explore the prescribing patterns of traditional practitioners and assess the impact of cannabis oil on patients' quality of life, with a specific focus on comparing outcomes between cancer and non-cancer patients. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study across 30 sites in 21 Thai provinces to analyze the use of "Ganja Oil," a cannabis extract in 10% coconut oil, prescribed for symptoms like pain, anorexia, and insomnia across a diverse patient group, including cancer and migraines. Quality of life was assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and EQ-5D-5L at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 months. The study included a predefined subgroup analysis to compare the effects on cancer versus non-cancer patients. Data management was facilitated through Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), with statistical analysis performed using Stata/MP. Results: Among 21,284 participants, the mean age was 54.10 ± 15.32 years, with 52.49% being male. The baseline EQ-5D-5L index was 0.85 ± 0.24. Significant differences in EQ-5D-5L indices were seen between cancer patients (0.79 ± 0.32) and non-cancer patients (0.85 ± 0.23; Conclusion: Our study indicates potential benefits of Ganja Oil for improving quality of life among Thai patients, as a complementary treatment. These findings must be viewed in light of the study's design limitations. Further controlled studies are essential to ascertain its efficacy and inform dosing guidelines.

Indexed as

Cannabis oilMedical cannabisPain managementQuality of lifeTraditional Thai medicine

Identifiers

PMID39144529
PMCPMC11324265

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.