Planting the seeds for success: A qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis.
Background In Canada, cannabis legalization altered the way that the public can access cannabis for medical purposes. However, Canadians still struggle with finding healthcare professionals (HCPs) who are involved in medical cannabis counselling and authorization. This raises questions about the bar...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:1c88301f161542f39b1a6cd8862c48cf 2024-09-15T18:20:13+00:00 Planting the seeds for success: A qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis. Sandi Schuhmacher Dina Gaid Lisa D Bishop Laura Fleming Jennifer Donnan 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0295858 https://doaj.org/article/1c88301f161542f39b1a6cd8862c48cf EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0295858&type=printable https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0295858 https://doaj.org/article/1c88301f161542f39b1a6cd8862c48cf PLoS ONE, Vol 19, Iss 3, p e0295858 (2024) Medicine R Science Q article 2024 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0295858 2024-08-05T17:49:49Z Background In Canada, cannabis legalization altered the way that the public can access cannabis for medical purposes. However, Canadians still struggle with finding healthcare professionals (HCPs) who are involved in medical cannabis counselling and authorization. This raises questions about the barriers that are causing this breakdown in care. Our study explored the perceptions of primary care providers regarding cannabis in their practice. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted by Zoom with HCPs in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) to discuss their experiences with medical and non-medical cannabis in practice. Family physicians and nurse practitioners who were practicing in primary care in NL were included. The interview guide and coding template were developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). A thematic analysis across the TDF was then conducted. Results Twelve participants with diverse demographic backgrounds and experience levels were interviewed. Five main themes emerged including, knowledge acquisition, internal influences, patient influences, external HCP influences, and systemic influences. The TDF domain resulting in the greatest representation of codes was environmental context and resources. Interpretation The findings suggested that HCPs have significant knowledge gaps in authorizing medical cannabis, which limited their practice competence and confidence in this area. Referring patients to cannabis clinics, while enforcing harm-reduction strategies, was an interim option for patients to access cannabis for medical purposes. However, developing practice guidelines and educational resources were suggested as prominent facilitators to promote medical cannabis authorization within the healthcare system. Article in Journal/Newspaper Newfoundland Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles PLOS ONE 19 3 e0295858 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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Medicine R Science Q |
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Medicine R Science Q Sandi Schuhmacher Dina Gaid Lisa D Bishop Laura Fleming Jennifer Donnan Planting the seeds for success: A qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis. |
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Medicine R Science Q |
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Background In Canada, cannabis legalization altered the way that the public can access cannabis for medical purposes. However, Canadians still struggle with finding healthcare professionals (HCPs) who are involved in medical cannabis counselling and authorization. This raises questions about the barriers that are causing this breakdown in care. Our study explored the perceptions of primary care providers regarding cannabis in their practice. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted by Zoom with HCPs in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) to discuss their experiences with medical and non-medical cannabis in practice. Family physicians and nurse practitioners who were practicing in primary care in NL were included. The interview guide and coding template were developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). A thematic analysis across the TDF was then conducted. Results Twelve participants with diverse demographic backgrounds and experience levels were interviewed. Five main themes emerged including, knowledge acquisition, internal influences, patient influences, external HCP influences, and systemic influences. The TDF domain resulting in the greatest representation of codes was environmental context and resources. Interpretation The findings suggested that HCPs have significant knowledge gaps in authorizing medical cannabis, which limited their practice competence and confidence in this area. Referring patients to cannabis clinics, while enforcing harm-reduction strategies, was an interim option for patients to access cannabis for medical purposes. However, developing practice guidelines and educational resources were suggested as prominent facilitators to promote medical cannabis authorization within the healthcare system. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Sandi Schuhmacher Dina Gaid Lisa D Bishop Laura Fleming Jennifer Donnan |
author_facet |
Sandi Schuhmacher Dina Gaid Lisa D Bishop Laura Fleming Jennifer Donnan |
author_sort |
Sandi Schuhmacher |
title |
Planting the seeds for success: A qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis. |
title_short |
Planting the seeds for success: A qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis. |
title_full |
Planting the seeds for success: A qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis. |
title_fullStr |
Planting the seeds for success: A qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Planting the seeds for success: A qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis. |
title_sort |
planting the seeds for success: a qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0295858 https://doaj.org/article/1c88301f161542f39b1a6cd8862c48cf |
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Newfoundland |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland |
op_source |
PLoS ONE, Vol 19, Iss 3, p e0295858 (2024) |
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https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0295858&type=printable https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0295858 https://doaj.org/article/1c88301f161542f39b1a6cd8862c48cf |
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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0295858 |
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