Medical marijuana - knowledge and opinions of primary care physicians in Lublin province, Poland.

Abstract

Introduction and objective: After the legal approval of medical marijuana for therapeutic use in patients in Poland in 2017, it was important to assess the ability of primary care physicians (PCPs) to prescribe it to patients with various diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge and opinions of PCPs regarding the possibility of prescribing medical marijuana, and in particular to obtain information about preparation of PCPs to prescribe it in clinical practice.

Material and methods: A survey containing 28 questions was carried out from 2020 - 2022 among PCPs employed in primary healthcare in the Lublin province of Poland. Answers of 293 (out of 301) respondents underwent statistical analysis with CATREG (categorical regression with optimal scaling using alternating least squares) to determine predictors affecting the level of knowledge about medical marijuana.

Results: Almost 90.8% of surveyed PCPs correctly identified the active ingredient of medical marijuana, assessed its acceptability (70.2%), differences in the use of marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids (60.1%), and the possibility of conducting clinical trials using cannabinoids in Poland (57.3%). Only 21.2% of respondents knew that there are legal guidelines in Poland, allowing the issue of prescriptions for medical marijuana, and 15.7% of respondents correctly identified the addictive potency of marijuana. The biggest problem for the surveyed PCPs was to indicate correct answers about the plants from which cannabinoids are extracted, the main physiological effects of marijuana and the negative consequences of its use.

Conclusions: The surveyed PCPs self-esteemed that they have limited knowledge about medical marijuana and its clinical use in treating patients. More educational activities related with medical marijuana should be initiated for family doctors.