The Information-Seeking Behavior and Unmet Knowledge Needs of Older Medicinal Cannabis Consumers in Canada: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Autor: Butler JI; Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. jibutler@ualberta.ca., Dahlke S; Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. sherry.dahlke@ualberta.ca., Devkota R; Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada., Shrestha S; Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada., Hunter KF; Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada., Toubiana M; Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, 55 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada., Kalogirou MR; Faculty of Nursing, MacEwan University, 11405-87th Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada., Law J; Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada., Scheuerman M; Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.; Medical Cannabis Manager, Avant Brands Inc., 335-1632 Dickson Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 7T2, Canada.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Drugs & aging [Drugs Aging] 2023 May; Vol. 40 (5), pp. 427-438. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 May 05.
DOI: 10.1007/s40266-023-01030-8
Abstrakt: Introduction: Older Canadians (age 60+) are increasingly using cannabis to treat their health problems, but little is known regarding how they learn about medicinal cannabis. This study explored the perspectives of older cannabis consumers, prospective consumers, healthcare professionals, and cannabis retailers on older adults' information-seeking behavior and unmet knowledge needs.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 36 older cannabis consumers and prospective consumers, as well as 4 healthcare professionals and 5 cannabis retailers from across Canada, for a total sample of 45 participants. Data were thematically analyzed.
Results: Three main themes characterizing older cannabis consumers' information-seeking were identified: (1) knowledge sources, (2) types of information sought, and (3) unmet knowledge needs. Participants accessed a variety of knowledge sources to inform themselves about medicinal cannabis. Cannabis retailers were identified as providing medical information to many older adults, despite regulations to the contrary. Cannabis-specialized healthcare professionals were also viewed as key knowledge sources, while primary care providers were perceived as both knowledge sources and gatekeepers limiting access to information. The types of information participants sought included the effects and potential benefits of medicinal cannabis, the side effects and risks involved, and guidance regarding suitable cannabis products. Participants' most salient unmet knowledge needs focused on dosing and use of cannabis to treat specific health conditions.
Discussion: Findings suggest that barriers to learning about medical cannabis among older consumers identified in prior research remain pervasive and cut across jurisdictions. To address these barriers, there is a need for better knowledge products tailored to older cannabis consumers and their information needs, and further education for primary healthcare providers on medicinal cannabis and its therapeutic applications with older patients.
(© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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