Ask the experts: Community Engagement studios to inform research on cannabis use in cancer symptom management.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2025

Abstract

AIM: Despite one-third of patients with cancer using cannabis for symptom management, little is known about their access to and usage of cannabis. Community Engagement (CE) studios involving community experts with chronic health conditions were used to inform a qualitative study on access to and use of cannabis products among patients with cancer.

METHOD: We conducted two 2-hour CE studios with residents from Western NY (WNY) (

RESULTS: Community experts reported that state legalization of cannabis made it easier to access cannabis, but the costs of cannabis and distance to dispensaries hindered their ability to obtain it. Discrimination was also a key barrier to medical cannabis receipt. There were differences in the perceived safety of where to obtain cannabis (dispensaries vs. friends). Community experts wanted providers to be more informed and less biased about recommending cannabis. Community experts recommended conducting focus groups for the subsequent study to ask questions about cannabis use.

CONCLUSION: The CE studios encouraged us to switch formats from qualitative interviews to focus groups and provided guidance on question topics for the subsequent study. Incorporating community expert's feedback through CE studios is an effective strategy to design more impactful studies.

Volume

9

Issue

1

First Page

47

Last Page

47

ISSN

2059-8661

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

40201652

Department(s)

Hematology-Medical Oncology Division

Document Type

Article

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