Most Pennsylvania clinicians felt unprepared to discuss medical cannabis with patients
A survey of 344 Pennsylvania clinicians found most felt they lacked adequate training about medical cannabis and were uncomfortable discussing it with patients despite growing demand.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The majority of surveyed clinicians reported insufficient training about medical cannabis, low comfort discussing it with patients, and varying attitudes toward its medical use. Training gaps crossed professional disciplines.
Key Numbers
344 Pennsylvania clinicians surveyed. 14% response rate. Most reported insufficient cannabis training and low comfort with patient discussions.
How They Did This
Brief online survey of 344 clinicians in Pennsylvania (14% response rate). Assessed attitudes, training experiences, and beliefs about medical cannabis across multiple healthcare professions.
Why This Research Matters
Patients increasingly ask clinicians about medical cannabis, but most medical and health professional training programs provide little to no cannabis education. This gap leaves patients without reliable clinical guidance.
The Bigger Picture
Medical cannabis is legal in most US states, yet medical education has not adapted. The disconnect between legal access and clinical knowledge means patients are making decisions about a legal treatment largely without professional guidance.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Low response rate (14%) raises self-selection concerns. Pennsylvania-specific findings may not generalize. Survey format cannot capture depth of knowledge or clinical practice. Clinicians who completed the survey may differ systematically from non-responders.
Questions This Raises
- ?What cannabis training curriculum would most effectively improve clinician comfort and knowledge?
- ?Would training change prescribing behavior or patient outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 344 clinicians surveyed; most reported insufficient cannabis training
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional survey with low response rate. Useful for identifying training gaps but limited generalizability.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023.
- Original Title:
- Clinician Attitudes, Training, and Beliefs About Cannabis: An Interprofessional Assessment.
- Published In:
- Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 8(3), 547-556 (2023)
- Authors:
- Worster, Brooke(5), Ashare, Rebecca L(3), Hajjar, Emily(2), Garber, Greg, Smith, Kelsey, Kelly, Erin L
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05034
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are doctors trained about medical cannabis?
According to this survey, most Pennsylvania clinicians felt they lacked adequate training about medical cannabis. This is consistent with findings from other states. Medical school curricula and continuing education programs have been slow to incorporate cannabis-specific content.
Should I ask my doctor about medical cannabis?
This study suggests many clinicians may not feel comfortable or knowledgeable about discussing cannabis. You may get more informed guidance from clinicians who have pursued specific cannabis education or who work in medical cannabis programs.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05034APA
Worster, Brooke; Ashare, Rebecca L; Hajjar, Emily; Garber, Greg; Smith, Kelsey; Kelly, Erin L. (2023). Clinician Attitudes, Training, and Beliefs About Cannabis: An Interprofessional Assessment.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 8(3), 547-556. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2021.0022
MLA
Worster, Brooke, et al. "Clinician Attitudes, Training, and Beliefs About Cannabis: An Interprofessional Assessment.." Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2021.0022
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Clinician Attitudes, Training, and Beliefs About Cannabis: A..." RTHC-05034. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/worster-2023-clinician-attitudes-training-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.