Medical students in Israel held more permissive views on medical cannabis than those in Thailand | Research

The takeaway

A cross-national survey of 430 medical students found Israeli students were more likely to recommend medical cannabis and support legalization, but felt less prepared to answer patient questions than Thai students.

Medical educators, medical students, and anyone interested in how future physicians view medical cannabis.

55.6% of Israeli vs 6.9% of Thai medical students reported personal cannabis use

What the researchers found

Israeli secular students were more likely to recommend medical cannabis, less concerned about health risks, and more supportive of recreational legalization. However, Thai students reported feeling more prepared to answer patient questions about medical cannabis despite lower personal use rates.

Why it matters

Medical students become the next generation of prescribers. Their attitudes and perceived preparedness around medical cannabis will shape clinical practice and patient access in the coming decades.

The numbers in context

430 students (163 Israeli, 267 Thai); personal cannabis use: 55.6% Israeli vs 6.9% Thai (P < .001)

How the study worked

A cross-sectional survey of 430 medical students (163 from Israel, 267 from Thailand) measured attitudes, beliefs, and perceived efficacy of medical cannabis for pain-related conditions. Comparisons used Pearson chi-squared tests.

What this study cannot tell us

Only two countries represented. Cross-sectional design captures a single point in time. Selection bias possible in survey participation. Cultural factors beyond medical education likely influence attitudes.

How to read the evidence

Reasonable sample size with cross-national comparison, though only two countries and potential selection bias limit generalizability.

When this study was published

Published in 2021.

The bigger picture

The gap between permissive attitudes and actual clinical preparedness, particularly among Israeli students, highlights a broader problem in medical education around cannabis that extends well beyond these two countries.

Questions still open

Does personal cannabis use influence clinical recommendations? What specific curriculum elements make Thai students feel more prepared? How do these attitudes translate to actual prescribing behavior after graduation?

Common questions

Which students felt more prepared to discuss medical cannabis with patients?

Thai students reported feeling more prepared, despite having much lower personal cannabis use rates and less permissive attitudes overall.

Did students think medical cannabis worked for pain?

The study measured perceived efficacy for pain conditions including arthritis, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis, with differences emerging between the two groups based on cultural context.

Read the original research

Cross national comparison of medical students' attitudes and beliefs about medical cannabis and its application for pain management.

Complementary therapies in medicine, 59, 102720

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Likhitsathian, Surinporn; Edelstein, Offer E; Srisurapanont, Manit; Zolotov, Yuval; Karawekpanyawong, Nuntaporn; Reznik, Alexander; Isralowitz, Richard. (2021). Cross national comparison of medical students' attitudes and beliefs about medical cannabis and its application for pain management.. Complementary therapies in medicine, 59, 102720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102720