(HealthDay News) — Many oncologists recommend medical marijuana (MM) clinically despite not feeling sufficiently knowledgeable about its utility, according to a study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Ilana M. Braun, MD, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, and colleagues surveyed 400 medical oncologists regarding their beliefs, knowledge, and practices regarding MM (response rate, 63%).
The researchers found that only 30% of oncologists felt sufficiently informed to make recommendations regarding MM. Far more (80%) discussed MM with patients, while 46% clinically recommended MM. Roughly two-thirds of respondents viewed MM as a helpful adjunct to standard pain management strategies; a similar proportion viewed MM as equally or more effective than standard treatments for anorexia/cachexia.
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“These findings are clinically important and suggest critical gaps in research, medical education, and policy regarding MM,” the authors write.
