(1200) The Use of Medicinal Cannabis in Chronic Pain

Objectives: THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY IS to evaluate the effect of medicinal cannabis use on quality of life for patients experiencing chronic pain and to determine WHETHER MEDICINAL CANNABIS IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CURRENT THERAPIES.

Methods: FOLLOWING IRB APPROVAL, AN ANONYMOUS, 15-question SURVEY WILL BE ADMINISTERED TO ESTABLISHED PATIENTS over the age of 18 with a diagnosis of chronic pain. THIS WILL TAKE PLACE AT 5 regional medicinal cannabis dispensaries. THE DISPENSARIES EXPECT TO COLLECT INFORMATION FROM OVER 250 PATIENTS, OVER THE 60 DAY COLLECTION PERIOD, BASED ON THE CURRENT USE OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS FOR PAIN IN THEIR PATIENT POPULATION, MEETING THE SAMPLE SIZE CALCULATION OF 98 PATIENTS. THE SURVEY ASKS FOR DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND ON THE USE OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN THE FORM OF EDIBLES, TOPICAL OR INHALED FORMS. AN ANALYSIS OF PATIENTS’ USE OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR THEIR PAIN MANAGEMENT AND WHETHER THE MEDICINAL CANNABIS HAS DECREASED THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES ARE INCLUDED. The survey ALSO ADDRESSES overall quality of life IN RELATION TO ALLEVIATION OF SYMPTOMS PRE AND POST USE OF medicinal cannabis. Respondents WILL describe their pain and evaluate their symptoms PRIOR TO AND AFTER USE OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS. Dispensary pharmacists WILL DISTRIBUTE THE SURVEY TO THEIR ESTABLISHED PATIENTS IN-PERSON OR VIA A QR CODE, MAKING THE SURVEY AVAILABLE ON-LINE. SURVEYS WILL BE COLLECTED AFTER 60 DAYS. CHI-SQUARE ANALYSIS AND INDEPENDENT T-TESTS WILL DETERMINE IF PATIENTS HAVE HAD SUCCESSFUL ALLEVIATION OF THEIR PAIN USING MEDICINAL CANNABIS INSTEAD OF OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALTERNATIVE PAIN MEDICATIONS IN THEIR MEDICAL HISTORY. PARTICIPANTS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 WILL BE EXCLUDED AS WILL PATIENTS WHO ARE INITIATING MEDICAL CANNABIS TREATMENT AND HAVE NO HISTORY OF USE OF THC/CBD PRODUCTS. THE STUDY DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY INCENTIVE FOR PARTICIPATION.

Results: Research in progress.

Conclusions: Research in progress.