Abstract 4374: Patient provider communication about the use of medical cannabis for cancer symptoms

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 2023-04, Vol.83 (7_Supplement), p.4374-4374
• Main Authors: Turner, Kea, Islam, Jessica Y., Martinez, Yessica C., Rodriguez, Omar Garcia, Irlanda, Diane Rodriguez, Nguyen, Oliver T., Jim, Heather S.L., Egan, Kathleen M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1538-7445; 1538-7445
• DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2023-4374

There has been limited study of patient-provider communication regarding medical cannabis for cancer symptoms. To address this gap, this study assesses the prevalence of patient-provider communication about the use of medical cannabis for cancer symptoms. Three types of communication are examined: 1) patient-provider discussions; 2) provider recommendations; and 3) provider instructions for how to use medical cannabis. We administered a survey from August to November 2021 with adult cancer patients who completed treatment from July 2017 to December 2019 at a National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Center; 1,592 individuals participated (response rate: 17.6%). About half of participants were female (52.1%). The age distribution of participants included 18-44 (9.4%), 45-54 (12.8%), 55-64 (25.3%), 65-74 (35.4%), and 75 and above (17.3%). Participant’s racial and ethnic background included Hispanic/Latinx (6.5%), African American/Black (4.0%), Asian American (1.0%), additional or multiple racial categories (3.5%), and White (91.5%). About a third (33.5%) of participants (530/1584) reported discussing medical cannabis for cancer symptoms with a healthcare provider. Participants who had discussed cannabis with a provider reported discussions with multiple providers including their oncology physician (62.3%), primary care provider (45.7%), oncology advanced practice provider (APP) (34.3%), dietician (7.4%), pharmacist (2.8%), and other healthcare provider (34.3%). Fewer (15.6%) participants (248/1592) reported receiving a recommendation for medical cannabis from a healthcare provider for their cancer symptoms. Participants who had received a recommendation reported recommendations from their oncology physician (32.7%), primary care provider (26.6%), oncology APP (13.7%), dietician (4.8%), pharmacist (1.6%), and other healthcare provider (56.9%). About a third (33.7%) of participants (537/1592) reported using medical cannabis during their cancer treatment and most often reported receiving instructions on how to use cannabis from no one (36.9%) or from a cannabis store or dispensary worker (23.8%). Less commonly, participants reported receiving instructions from their healthcare provider including their primary care provider (3.7%), oncology APP (2.0%), oncology physician (1.5%), pharmacist (