What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Pain, THC, CBD.

Where was this research published?

Published in MDM policy & practice on January 1, 2026.

Why doctors avoid cannabis discussions with arthritis patients

Exploring Clinicians' Determinants of Participation in Medical Cannabis Decision Making with Older Adults Experiencing Arthritis: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

MDM policy & practice • January 1, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This qualitative study explored why healthcare clinicians struggle to engage in shared decision-making conversations about medical cannabis with older adults who have arthritis. Researchers interviewed 12 clinicians (including pharmacists, family physicians, rheumatologists, and nurses) and identified three main barriers: uncertainty about how to perceive the decision itself, concerns about other healthcare providers' perspectives, and internal conflict about their confidence and role in recommending cannabis. The findings reveal a significant gap in clinical practice—many older adults are making medical cannabis decisions without professional guidance, despite arthritis being a common condition affecting seniors.

The study highlighted that evidence gaps remain the biggest obstacle, leaving clinicians underprepared for open, informed conversations with patients. Beyond knowledge deficits, clinicians struggled with role confusion (unclear if discussing cannabis is even their responsibility), interpersonal dynamics with colleagues, and concerns about how patients and other providers might react. The research suggests that healthcare systems need tailored decision support tools that strengthen clinicians' confidence, clarify their responsibilities, and help navigate workplace constraints while building trust among care team members.

These findings have important implications for older adults seeking cannabis treatment for arthritis. The study underscores how structural and educational barriers—not just patient preferences—determine whether seniors receive professional guidance on medical cannabis. Developing better decision-making frameworks and training could help clinicians become more confident partners in cannabis discussions, ultimately leading to safer, more informed treatment choices for arthritis patients.

📄 Original Abstract

Background. Arthritis is a common chronic condition among older adults in Canada. Shared decision making (SDM) regarding medical cannabis (MC) use has been anticipated to result in improved health outcomes. However, the practice of SDM for MC remains limited. Few studies addressed what clinicians need to decide with their patients about MC. We explored clinicians' perspectives on what determines their decisional needs to participate in MC SDM with older adults experiencing arthritis. Methods. In-depth, semi-structured interviews using purposive sampling were conducted online. An interview guide based on the Ottawa Decision Support Framework (ODSF) was used. Recordings were transcribed verbatim, and the data were analyzed deductively and inductively using reflexive thematic analysis. Results. Semi-structured interviews with 12 participants (33% pharmacists, 25% family physicians, 25% rheumatologists, and 17% registered nurses) were conducted. Three main themes were constructed to summarize determinants of clinicians' needs to be able to participate in MC-related SDM: 1) perception of the decision, 2) perception of others, and 3) decisional conflict. Conclusion. While gaps in evidence remain a critical concern affecting inadequate knowledge and contributing to decision-making needs, findings suggest that a tailored decision support intervention (DSI) would strengthen clinicians' self-efficacy, clarify role expectations, and attend to the interpersonal dynamics that shape MC SDM. To enhance usability, a DSI should be developed to address clinicians' decisional needs while remaining responsive to workflow constraints. Using the Ottawa Decision Support Framework, this study explored clinicians' decisional needs regarding shared decision making about medical cannabis (MC) use for arthritis.Findings highlight gaps that hinder clinicians from engaging in open discussions, leaving many older adults to make MC decisions without professional guidance.Addressing clinicians' decisional needs is essential for developing decision support interventions and policies that ensure safe, informed care.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: MDM policy & practice
Published: January 1, 2026
PMID: 42181610
DOI: 10.1177/23814683261444057

Authors (5)

Heba A T Aref Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Yazid N Al Hamarneh EPICORE Centre, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Elaine Yacyshyn Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Tony K L Kiang Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Cheryl A Sadowski Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.