A two-hour cannabis education module significantly improved nurse practitioner knowledge and willingness to discuss cannabis | Research

The takeaway

After a 2-hour continuing education module, 289 nurse practitioners improved test scores by an average of 39%, with 92% reporting they would now ask patients about cannabis use.

Nurse practitioners, medical educators, CE program developers, and advocates for cannabis education in healthcare training.

39% score improvement; 92% now willing to ask patients about cannabis

What the researchers found

Significant improvement in all content areas from pre- to post-test, with a mean improvement of 39.3%. Greatest increases were for metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and drug-drug interactions. At 3-month follow-up (63% response rate), 52% said the CE changed their attitudes, 92% were now likely to ask patients about cannabis, and 84% were likely to counsel patients about it.

Why it matters

Nurse practitioners are cannabis authorizing providers in many states and serve as primary care clinicians. If a 2-hour module can significantly improve knowledge and change practice behavior, it represents a scalable solution to the provider education gap.

The numbers in context

289 pre/post-test participants. 39.3% mean score improvement (95% CI: 30.6-47.9%). 184 completed follow-up (63%). 52% changed attitudes. 92% now likely to ask about cannabis. 84% likely to counsel. 86% had not yet applied knowledge in practice.

How the study worked

Nationally distributed 2-hour continuing education module for nurse practitioners. Pre- and post-testing (n=289) plus 3-month follow-up survey (n=184, 63%). Content covered pharmacodynamics, law, evidence-based use, metabolism, drug interactions, and adverse reactions.

What this study cannot tell us

Self-selected participants likely more interested in cannabis education. No control group. Self-reported practice changes not verified. 37% lost to follow-up. Short follow-up period for practice change assessment.

How to read the evidence

Pre-post educational intervention with reasonable follow-up rate but no control group and self-selected participants.

When this study was published

Published in 2022.

The bigger picture

The finding that 86% had not yet applied the knowledge at 3-month follow-up, despite increased willingness, suggests that knowledge alone may not be sufficient to change practice. Systemic barriers may also need addressing.

Questions still open

Would mandatory cannabis education in NP programs produce similar results? What barriers prevent NPs from applying cannabis knowledge in practice despite increased willingness?

Common questions

Are nurse practitioners trained to discuss cannabis?

Most are not. In this study, a 2-hour CE module improved NP knowledge scores by 39%, suggesting baseline knowledge is low but can be significantly improved with targeted education.

Does cannabis education change provider behavior?

At 3-month follow-up, 92% of NPs said they would now ask patients about cannabis use and 84% would counsel about it, though 86% had not yet applied the knowledge in practice.

Read the original research

Ask Your Provider About Cannabis: Increasing Nurse Practitioner Knowledge and Confidence.

Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 7(5), 700-705

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Klein, Tracy A; Bindler, Ross. (2022). Ask Your Provider About Cannabis: Increasing Nurse Practitioner Knowledge and Confidence.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 7(5), 700-705. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2021.0061