Abstract

Background: It is estimated up to 40% of adult oncology patients use medical cannabis (MC) for a myriad of symptoms, including not limited to, nausea, pain, appetite, and anxiety. Conversely, less than one-third of oncology health care providers (HCPs) feel confident making cannabis recommendations. Furthermore, studies have shown low disclosure rate and poor communication between oncology patient and provider regarding integrative medicine, which includes cannabis. This study sought to examine the degree of correlation between the desire for information regarding cannabis in the adult oncology population, the level of communication regarding cannabis between patients and providers, and educational efforts to move toward an evidence-based discussion.

Methods: A two-page questionnaire was provided to adult oncology patients currently receiving treatment at the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center. They were asked if a member of the healthcare team discussed medical cannabis within the last 3 months. An educational session reviewing ASCO Cannabis guidelines was held for Oncology Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Registered Nurses. HCPs were provided questionnaires for pre- and post-education. The patient questionnaire was then repeated within 3 months of the educational intervention.

Results: Sixty percent of patients wanted medical cannabis information. Of those patients, 40% percent were waiting for HCPs to bring up the topic. Most conversations were with a physician or nurse practitioner. Pre-education 23% of HCPs knew the ASCO guidelines existed; however, 0% had used them. Conversely, post-education session, 85% plan to use ASCO guideline to aid in cannabis discussion.

Conclusions: Of the conversations that did take place among patients and HCPs, 100% of patients found it helpful. Post education session, 61% of HCPs were ‘very likely’ or ‘somewhat likely’ to discuss MC with patients.

Author Details

Jodi McClain, DNP(c), APRN, AOCNP - Specialized in oncology for all 25 years of nursing career. Currently work full time as an oncology nurse practitioner at the University of Toledo Medical Center.

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Other

Keywords:

Oncology, Medical Cannabis, Medical Cannabis Use, Patient-Provider Communications

Advisor

Susan Batten

Degree

DNP

Degree Year

2025

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

Date of Issue

2025-12-15

Full Text of Presentation

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Click on the above link to access the capstone paper.

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