Abstract 4374: Patient provider communication about the use of medical cannabis for cancer symptoms
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. 
Published: April 2023

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 (&lt;1%), or dietician (&lt;1%). Based on this survey, about a third of cancer patients discuss medical cannabis with a healthcare provider but fewer receive a recommendation and/or instructions for how to use medical cannabis from a healthcare provider. Additional interventions may be needed to ensure that cancer patients interested in or currently using medical cannabis receive guidance from oncology care providers.

Citation Format: Kea Turner, Jessica Y. Islam, Yessica C. Martinez, Omar Garcia Rodriguez, Diane Rodriguez Irlanda, Oliver T. Nguyen, Heather S.L. Jim, Kathleen M. Egan. Patient provider communication about the use of medical cannabis for cancer symptoms. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4374.