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Knowledge and Perception of Medical Cannabis Among Physicians in Training: Are We Prepared?
Education, Research, and Quality Improvement SESSION TITLE: Quality Improvement 2 SESSION TYPE: Original Investigation Poster PRESENTED ON: Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Knowledge and Perception of Medical Cannabis Among Physicians in Training: Are We Prepared?
PURPOSE: The primary objective is to assess the preparedness of resident physicians for New Jersey’s medical cannabis program, in terms of healthcare competency regarding laws, policies and medical pharmacology. The secondary objective is to map potential gaps in knowledge regarding the state’s cannabis program regulations and evaluate the comfort level in counseling patients receiving these products. METHODS: This is an IRB approved cross-sectional study performed using a web-based questionnaire distributed to all the current internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatric resident physicians training at Saint Peter’s University Hospital. The questionnaire included 15 multiple choice and Likert-type scale based (1 to 10; 1=Poor, 10=Excellent) questions. Statistical analysis of the data collected is performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: A total of 51 resident physicians responded to the questionnaire of which 83% were from internal medicine (IM). The post graduate training (PGY) level of the respondents comprised of PGY 1 (29%), PGY 2 (40%), PGY 3 (29%) and PGY 4 (2%). Overall, physicians-in-training rated poor understanding of medical cannabis pharmacology on the Likert scale (Mean: 3.1 out of 10). Self-reported competency in medical pharmacology was comparable between levels of training. IM residents considered themselves to be more competent in comparison to obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatric residents combined (Mean: 3.7 vs. 1.5 out of 10; p=0.003). Of note, 38% of respondents thought medical marijuana is a FDA approved prescription drug and 76% did not know the category of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. The IM residents reported a lack of preparedness for counseling patients regarding medical cannabis (Mean: 3.6 out of 10). Among resident physicians, there were increased concerns of safety, addiction potential and limited evidence of therapeutic benefit which were similar across specialties. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study assessing the medical competency amongst physicians-in-training regarding medical cannabis use since its legal dispensing. We found physicians self reported poor understanding of medical cannabis pharmacology and cannabis program registry regulations. Lack of awareness and comfort in addressing the therapeutic aspects of medical cannabis is an emerging yet essential component to continuing medical education. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Twenty eight states in the United States have legally approved medical cannabis use. In total, marijuana sales could expand the national market to twenty one billion dollars by 2020. Healthcare professional preparedness has not proportionally evolved with the exponential nationwide increase in medical cannabis use, thus highlighting a potential area of improvement in medical education. DISCLOSURE: The following authors have nothing to disclose: Nissy Ann Philip, Maria Cardinale, Balaji Yegneswaran No Product/Research Disclosure Information DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2017.08.607
Copyright ª 2017 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
chestjournal.org
577A
EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Nissy Ann Philip* Maria Cardinale and Balaji Yegneswaran Saint Peter’s University Hospital, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
Knowledge and Perception of Medical Cannabis Among Physicians in Training: Are We Prepared?
PURPOSE: The primary objective is to assess the preparedness of resident physicians for New Jersey’s medical cannabis program, in terms of healthcare competency regarding laws, policies and medical pharmacology. The secondary objective is to map potential gaps in knowledge regarding the state’s cannabis program regulations and evaluate the comfort level in counseling patients receiving these products. METHODS: This is an IRB approved cross-sectional study performed using a web-based questionnaire distributed to all the current internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatric resident physicians training at Saint Peter’s University Hospital. The questionnaire included 15 multiple choice and Likert-type scale based (1 to 10; 1=Poor, 10=Excellent) questions. Statistical analysis of the data collected is performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: A total of 51 resident physicians responded to the questionnaire of which 83% were from internal medicine (IM). The post graduate training (PGY) level of the respondents comprised of PGY 1 (29%), PGY 2 (40%), PGY 3 (29%) and PGY 4 (2%). Overall, physicians-in-training rated poor understanding of medical cannabis pharmacology on the Likert scale (Mean: 3.1 out of 10). Self-reported competency in medical pharmacology was comparable between levels of training. IM residents considered themselves to be more competent in comparison to obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatric residents combined (Mean: 3.7 vs. 1.5 out of 10; p=0.003). Of note, 38% of respondents thought medical marijuana is a FDA approved prescription drug and 76% did not know the category of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. The IM residents reported a lack of preparedness for counseling patients regarding medical cannabis (Mean: 3.6 out of 10). Among resident physicians, there were increased concerns of safety, addiction potential and limited evidence of therapeutic benefit which were similar across specialties. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study assessing the medical competency amongst physicians-in-training regarding medical cannabis use since its legal dispensing. We found physicians self reported poor understanding of medical cannabis pharmacology and cannabis program registry regulations. Lack of awareness and comfort in addressing the therapeutic aspects of medical cannabis is an emerging yet essential component to continuing medical education. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Twenty eight states in the United States have legally approved medical cannabis use. In total, marijuana sales could expand the national market to twenty one billion dollars by 2020. Healthcare professional preparedness has not proportionally evolved with the exponential nationwide increase in medical cannabis use, thus highlighting a potential area of improvement in medical education. DISCLOSURE: The following authors have nothing to disclose: Nissy Ann Philip, Maria Cardinale, Balaji Yegneswaran No Product/Research Disclosure Information DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2017.08.607
Copyright ª 2017 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
chestjournal.org
577A
EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Nissy Ann Philip* Maria Cardinale and Balaji Yegneswaran Saint Peter’s University Hospital, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ