Abstract B052: Associations of cancer patients' sociodemographic characteristics with cannabis-related behaviors
Authors: Adley Neema C. , Krok-Schoen Jessica L. , Brasky Theodore M. , Plascak Jesse J. , Newton Alison M. , Adib Anita 
Published: December 2023

Background: Medical and non-medical cannabis is increasingly legalized and popularized in the US, yet there is a paucity of research on the subject, particularly in a cancer context. Previous research examining correlates of sociodemographic characteristics with cannabis-related behaviors are limited to gender-specific comparisons. In the present study, we examined how these behaviors by adults with cancer differed by age, gender, race, educational attainment, and cancer type. Methods: 943 patients attending any of 8 Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center clinics were recruited in person (n=721) or remotely (n=222) into an anonymous cross-sectional study. Eligible patients were ≥18 years of age and were diagnosed with invasive cancer (all stages) in the past 12 months. Participants self-administered a validated, extensive cannabis-focused questionnaire, which queried on cannabis-related behaviors and use, along with demographic and clinical information. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine associations between cannabis-related behaviors and sociodemographic factors and cancer type. Results: Participants were, on average, 61.7 ± 12.1 years old with at least some college education (70.4%). Older participants, aged ≥ 63 years, were less likely to be currently using cannabis (OR=0.27, 95% CI: 0.17-0.43; P&lt;0.001) and less likely to be interested in cannabis (OR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.43-0.82; P=0.001) than younger participants. Participants with at least a 4-year college degree were less likely to be currently using cannabis (OR=0.48, 95% CI: 0.28-0.84, P=0.009) and less likely to have received a provider recommendation of cannabis use compared to the least educated (OR=0.31, 95% CI: 0.14-0.72, P=0.006). Patients with skin cancer were less likely to be currently using cannabis compared to those with lung cancer (OR=0.26, 95% CI: 0.07-0.92; P=0.037). Conclusions: Multiple factors (e.g., age, educational attainment) were associated with differences in cannabis-related behaviors among cancer patients. Results indicate that differences by sociodemographic characteristics exist, which may be associated with differences in symptom burden, patient-provider interactions, and other health behaviors. These results add to a burgeoning area of research and provide insight for future research and clinical inquiry related to cannabis use among cancer patients.

Citation Format: Neema C. Adley, Jessica L. Krok-Schoen, Theodore M. Brasky, Jesse J. Plascak, Alison M. Newton, Anita Adib. Associations of cancer patients' sociodemographic characteristics with cannabis-related behaviors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B052.