Most Italian cancer patients know about medical cannabis but almost none learned about it from their doctors | Research

The takeaway

Among 232 Italian cancer patients, 81% had heard of medical cannabis but only 2% learned about it from healthcare professionals, while 34% had considered using it for their own symptoms, revealing a massive information gap.

Oncologists, cancer care nurses, medical education programs, and cancer patients.

Only 2% learned from doctors

What the researchers found

81% of patients had heard about medical cannabis, but only 2% from healthcare professionals. 34% had considered using cannabis for their own health problems, especially pain (55%). Patients with higher education were more likely to know about cannabis and medical cannabis. Metastatic patients were less informed than those on adjuvant treatment.

Why it matters

Medical cannabis has been legally available in Italy since 1998, yet only 2% of cancer patients learn about it from their healthcare team. This communication failure leaves patients to rely on potentially unreliable information sources.

The numbers in context

232 patients. 81% heard of medical cannabis. 2% from healthcare professionals. 34% considered using it. Pain most common reason (55%). 18% believed cannabis could worsen symptoms. Higher education: OR 3.52 for cannabis knowledge, OR 3.21 for medical cannabis knowledge.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional knowledge survey of 232 cancer patients at two Italian outpatient cancer centers and a home care service, February-April 2018.

What this study cannot tell us

Italian healthcare context may differ from other countries. Self-report survey. Patients at cancer centers may not represent all cancer patients. Only captured awareness and attitudes, not actual use patterns.

How to read the evidence

Rated moderate because the sample is reasonable and the findings are clinically striking, though the single-country design limits generalizability.

When this study was published

Published in 2019 using 2018 data from Italy.

The bigger picture

The gap between patient awareness (81%) and clinician communication (2%) is one of the starkest findings in medical cannabis literature. Patients are clearly interested and searching for information, but clinicians are not providing it.

Questions still open

Why are clinicians not discussing medical cannabis with cancer patients? Would clinician education improve this communication? Does the information gap lead to patients using cannabis unsafely?

Common questions

Do cancer patients want to know about medical cannabis?

Yes. 81% had already heard about it and 34% had considered using it. But only 2% received information from healthcare professionals, forcing patients to seek information elsewhere.

What do cancer patients want cannabis for?

Pain was the most common reason (55% of those considering it). Medical cannabis is legally indicated in Italy for cancer-related nausea, vomiting, and pain.

Read the original research

What cancer patients actually know regarding medical cannabis? A cross-sectional survey with a critical analysis of the current attitudes.

Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners, 25(6), 1439-1444

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Cortellini, Alessio; Porzio, Giampiero; Cofini, Vincenza; Necozione, Stefano; Giusti, Raffaele; Marchetti, Paolo; Aloe Spiriti, Maria A; Costanzi, Andrea; Peris, Flaminia; Ravoni, Giulio; Spinelli, Giuseppe; Ficorella, Corrado; Verna, Lucilla. (2019). What cancer patients actually know regarding medical cannabis? A cross-sectional survey with a critical analysis of the current attitudes.. Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners, 25(6), 1439-1444. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078155219843161