Education, training, and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in Israel
Background: Medical cannabis use is expanding globally, yet knowledge gaps persist among both patients and healthcare professionals. This study aimed to examine age-related differences in medical cannabis use patterns, sources of education and training, and perceptions of physician competencies amon...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Complementary Therapies in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229925000470 |
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| author | Yuval Zolotov Offer E. Edelstein Leslie Mendoza Temple Mikhail Kogan Shai-li Romem-Porat Alexander Reznik Richard Isralowitz |
| author_facet | Yuval Zolotov Offer E. Edelstein Leslie Mendoza Temple Mikhail Kogan Shai-li Romem-Porat Alexander Reznik Richard Isralowitz |
| author_sort | Yuval Zolotov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Medical cannabis use is expanding globally, yet knowledge gaps persist among both patients and healthcare professionals. This study aimed to examine age-related differences in medical cannabis use patterns, sources of education and training, and perceptions of physician competencies among medical cannabis patients in Israel. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 233 Israeli medical cannabis patients assessed use patterns, education and training sources, and perceptions of physician competencies. Data were analyzed by age groups (18–33, 34–48, 49–64, 65 +) using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and ANOVA. Results: Use patterns differed significantly by age. Smoking was common among participants aged 18–33 (40 %) and 34–48 (37.8 %) but less common in the 49–64 group (16.7 %) and the 65 + group (10 %; p < .001). Conversely, ingestion-based methods were reported by 65.5 % of participants aged 65 + and by 72.2 % in the 49–64 group, but only by 45.9 % and 50 % in younger groups (p < .01). Among 57.6 % of participants who knew the THC/CBD concentration of their cannabis, mean THC concentration decreased with age (p < 0.05), while mean CBD concentration increased with age (p < 0.01). Most participants (89.8 %) received education on medical cannabis, primarily from physicians (74.7 %), but 35.4 % used internet sources, and 20.1 % reported peer networks. Conclusion: This study identifies age-related differences in medical cannabis use patterns, information sources, and perceptions of physician competencies. Future research should explore how tailored patient education and clinician training can address these differences and improve guidance for medical cannabis use. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-17a5ef27393045c19b4f58c35cd981ec |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0965-2299 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Complementary Therapies in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-17a5ef27393045c19b4f58c35cd981ec2025-08-20T02:26:33ZengElsevierComplementary Therapies in Medicine0965-22992025-06-019010317210.1016/j.ctim.2025.103172Education, training, and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in IsraelYuval Zolotov0Offer E. Edelstein1Leslie Mendoza Temple2Mikhail Kogan3Shai-li Romem-Porat4Alexander Reznik5Richard Isralowitz6Division of General Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United StatesDepartment of Social Work, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; Corresponding author.Integrative Medicine Program, Endeavor Health, Glenview, IL, United States; Department of Family Medicine, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United StatesGeorge Washington University, Washington, DC, United StatesRegional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, IsraelRegional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, IsraelRegional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, IsraelBackground: Medical cannabis use is expanding globally, yet knowledge gaps persist among both patients and healthcare professionals. This study aimed to examine age-related differences in medical cannabis use patterns, sources of education and training, and perceptions of physician competencies among medical cannabis patients in Israel. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 233 Israeli medical cannabis patients assessed use patterns, education and training sources, and perceptions of physician competencies. Data were analyzed by age groups (18–33, 34–48, 49–64, 65 +) using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and ANOVA. Results: Use patterns differed significantly by age. Smoking was common among participants aged 18–33 (40 %) and 34–48 (37.8 %) but less common in the 49–64 group (16.7 %) and the 65 + group (10 %; p < .001). Conversely, ingestion-based methods were reported by 65.5 % of participants aged 65 + and by 72.2 % in the 49–64 group, but only by 45.9 % and 50 % in younger groups (p < .01). Among 57.6 % of participants who knew the THC/CBD concentration of their cannabis, mean THC concentration decreased with age (p < 0.05), while mean CBD concentration increased with age (p < 0.01). Most participants (89.8 %) received education on medical cannabis, primarily from physicians (74.7 %), but 35.4 % used internet sources, and 20.1 % reported peer networks. Conclusion: This study identifies age-related differences in medical cannabis use patterns, information sources, and perceptions of physician competencies. Future research should explore how tailored patient education and clinician training can address these differences and improve guidance for medical cannabis use.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229925000470Medical cannabisMedical marijuanaPatient educationPatterns of useCompetencies |
| spellingShingle | Yuval Zolotov Offer E. Edelstein Leslie Mendoza Temple Mikhail Kogan Shai-li Romem-Porat Alexander Reznik Richard Isralowitz Education, training, and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in Israel Complementary Therapies in Medicine Medical cannabis Medical marijuana Patient education Patterns of use Competencies |
| title | Education, training, and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in Israel |
| title_full | Education, training, and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in Israel |
| title_fullStr | Education, training, and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in Israel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Education, training, and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in Israel |
| title_short | Education, training, and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in Israel |
| title_sort | education training and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in israel |
| topic | Medical cannabis Medical marijuana Patient education Patterns of use Competencies |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229925000470 |
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