Talking with pregnant women exposed to cannabis use after cannabis legalization: Experiences of professionals working in Québec's social and healthcare system
Background: The rising prevalence of prenatal cannabis use in high-income countries presents a growing concern for the medical community. Despite guidelines outlining risks, healthcare and social service professionals often struggle to discuss cannabis use with pregnant women. This study examines ho...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321525000022 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832586225104453632 |
|---|---|
| author | Karen A. Dominguez-Cancino Rose Chabot Yolaine Frossard de Saugy Kristelle Alunni-Menichini Lysiane Robidoux-Léonard Genève Guilbert-Gauthier Karine Bertrand Christophe Huỳnh Pablo Martínez Helen-Maria Vasiliadis Nadia L'Espérance Victoria Massamba Julie Loslier José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz |
| author_facet | Karen A. Dominguez-Cancino Rose Chabot Yolaine Frossard de Saugy Kristelle Alunni-Menichini Lysiane Robidoux-Léonard Genève Guilbert-Gauthier Karine Bertrand Christophe Huỳnh Pablo Martínez Helen-Maria Vasiliadis Nadia L'Espérance Victoria Massamba Julie Loslier José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz |
| author_sort | Karen A. Dominguez-Cancino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The rising prevalence of prenatal cannabis use in high-income countries presents a growing concern for the medical community. Despite guidelines outlining risks, healthcare and social service professionals often struggle to discuss cannabis use with pregnant women. This study examines how these interactions have evolved following the Cannabis Act in Québec, focusing on how professionals respond to and provide guidance for women who report cannabis use during pregnancy. Methods: This is a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Purposeful sampling was employed to recruit 19 professionals, including physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers. Data was analyzed using King's (2012) Template analysis technique. Results: We identified three themes: a) how professionals talk about cannabis, b) what they talk about, and c) what practices they follow. Two key processes—i) exploration and assessment, and ii) action—were identified. Professionals tailor interventions, including counseling, psycho-emotional management, harm reduction, and referrals, based on risk levels and willingness to change. We observed differences among professionals based on the programs in which they work. Conclusions: This study highlights the complex interactions between health professionals and pregnant women who use cannabis. It discusses the importance of integrating harm reduction strategies with person-centered approaches to address cannabis use. While professionals balance the need for openness with concerns about fetal health, a knowledge gap persists. Strengthening educational initiatives and expanding addiction expertise could enhance support and intervention practices, bridging gaps left by current evidence and regulatory frameworks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cbc607e173814ddea8c6b2fdea5915ec |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2667-3215 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-cbc607e173814ddea8c6b2fdea5915ec2025-01-26T05:05:19ZengElsevierSSM: Qualitative Research in Health2667-32152025-06-017100524Talking with pregnant women exposed to cannabis use after cannabis legalization: Experiences of professionals working in Québec's social and healthcare systemKaren A. Dominguez-Cancino0Rose Chabot1Yolaine Frossard de Saugy2Kristelle Alunni-Menichini3Lysiane Robidoux-Léonard4Genève Guilbert-Gauthier5Karine Bertrand6Christophe Huỳnh7Pablo Martínez8Helen-Maria Vasiliadis9Nadia L'Espérance10Victoria Massamba11Julie Loslier12José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz13Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke – Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC, J4K 0A8, Canada; School of Nursing. Universidad San Sebastián, General Lagos 1163, 5110693, Valdivia, Los Ríos, Chile; Corresponding author. Université de Sherbrooke – Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC J4K 0A8, Canada.McGill University, 845 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G4, CanadaMcGill University, 845 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G4, CanadaMcGill University, 845 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G4, CanadaFaculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke – Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC, J4K 0A8, CanadaFaculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke – Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC, J4K 0A8, CanadaFaculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke – Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC, J4K 0A8, CanadaInstitut universitaire sur les dépendances (CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal), 950 Rue de Louvain East, Montréal, QC, H2M 2E8, CanadaMcGill University, 845 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G4, Canada; Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, CanadaFaculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke – Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC, J4K 0A8, Canada; Centre de Recherche Charles-Le Moyne, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC, J4K 0A8, CanadaCIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec, 858 Terr. Turcotte, Trois-Rivières, QC, G9A 5C5, CanadaInstitut National de Santé Publique du Québec, 945 Av. Wolfe, Québec, QC, G1V 5B3, CanadaFaculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke – Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC, J4K 0A8, CanadaFaculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke – Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC, J4K 0A8, Canada; Institut universitaire sur les dépendances (CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal), 950 Rue de Louvain East, Montréal, QC, H2M 2E8, CanadaBackground: The rising prevalence of prenatal cannabis use in high-income countries presents a growing concern for the medical community. Despite guidelines outlining risks, healthcare and social service professionals often struggle to discuss cannabis use with pregnant women. This study examines how these interactions have evolved following the Cannabis Act in Québec, focusing on how professionals respond to and provide guidance for women who report cannabis use during pregnancy. Methods: This is a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Purposeful sampling was employed to recruit 19 professionals, including physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers. Data was analyzed using King's (2012) Template analysis technique. Results: We identified three themes: a) how professionals talk about cannabis, b) what they talk about, and c) what practices they follow. Two key processes—i) exploration and assessment, and ii) action—were identified. Professionals tailor interventions, including counseling, psycho-emotional management, harm reduction, and referrals, based on risk levels and willingness to change. We observed differences among professionals based on the programs in which they work. Conclusions: This study highlights the complex interactions between health professionals and pregnant women who use cannabis. It discusses the importance of integrating harm reduction strategies with person-centered approaches to address cannabis use. While professionals balance the need for openness with concerns about fetal health, a knowledge gap persists. Strengthening educational initiatives and expanding addiction expertise could enhance support and intervention practices, bridging gaps left by current evidence and regulatory frameworks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321525000022Cannabis usePregnancyHealthcare professionalsHarm reductionQualitative researchQuébec |
| spellingShingle | Karen A. Dominguez-Cancino Rose Chabot Yolaine Frossard de Saugy Kristelle Alunni-Menichini Lysiane Robidoux-Léonard Genève Guilbert-Gauthier Karine Bertrand Christophe Huỳnh Pablo Martínez Helen-Maria Vasiliadis Nadia L'Espérance Victoria Massamba Julie Loslier José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz Talking with pregnant women exposed to cannabis use after cannabis legalization: Experiences of professionals working in Québec's social and healthcare system SSM: Qualitative Research in Health Cannabis use Pregnancy Healthcare professionals Harm reduction Qualitative research Québec |
| title | Talking with pregnant women exposed to cannabis use after cannabis legalization: Experiences of professionals working in Québec's social and healthcare system |
| title_full | Talking with pregnant women exposed to cannabis use after cannabis legalization: Experiences of professionals working in Québec's social and healthcare system |
| title_fullStr | Talking with pregnant women exposed to cannabis use after cannabis legalization: Experiences of professionals working in Québec's social and healthcare system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Talking with pregnant women exposed to cannabis use after cannabis legalization: Experiences of professionals working in Québec's social and healthcare system |
| title_short | Talking with pregnant women exposed to cannabis use after cannabis legalization: Experiences of professionals working in Québec's social and healthcare system |
| title_sort | talking with pregnant women exposed to cannabis use after cannabis legalization experiences of professionals working in quebec s social and healthcare system |
| topic | Cannabis use Pregnancy Healthcare professionals Harm reduction Qualitative research Québec |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321525000022 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karenadominguezcancino talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT rosechabot talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT yolainefrossarddesaugy talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT kristellealunnimenichini talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT lysianerobidouxleonard talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT geneveguilbertgauthier talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT karinebertrand talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT christophehuynh talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT pablomartinez talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT helenmariavasiliadis talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT nadialesperance talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT victoriamassamba talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT julieloslier talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem AT joseignacionazifmunoz talkingwithpregnantwomenexposedtocannabisuseaftercannabislegalizationexperiencesofprofessionalsworkinginquebecssocialandhealthcaresystem |