METHODS: Using an exploratory case study design, this study aimed to understand how one LTC facility in western Canada addressed the major policy shift related to medical and non-medical cannabis. The case study, conducted November 2021 to August 2022, included an environmental scan of existing policies and procedures related to cannabis use at the LTC facility, a quantitative survey of Healthcare Providers\' (HCP) knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cannabis, and qualitative interviews with HCPs and administrators. Quantitative survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.
RESULTS: A total of 71 HCPs completed the survey and 12 HCPs, including those who functioned as administrators, participated in the interview. The largest knowledge gaps were related to dosing and creating effective treatment plans for residents using cannabis. About half of HCPs reported providing care in the past month to a resident who was taking medical cannabis (54.9%) and a quarter (25.4%) to a resident that was taking non-medical cannabis. The majority of respondents (81.7%) reported that lack of knowledge, education or information about medical cannabis were barriers to medical cannabis use in LTC. From the qualitative data, we identified four key findings regarding HCPs\' attitudes, cannabis access and use, barriers to cannabis use, and non-medical cannabis use.
CONCLUSIONS: With the legalization of medical and non-medical cannabis in jurisdictions around the world, LTC facilities will be obligated to develop policies, procedures and healthcare services that are able to accommodate residents\' use of cannabis in a respectful and evidence-informed manner.
方法:使用探索性案例研究设计,本研究旨在了解加拿大西部的一家LTC机构如何解决与医用和非医用大麻相关的重大政策转变.案例研究,2021年11月至2022年8月,包括对LTC设施与大麻使用相关的现有政策和程序进行环境扫描,对医疗保健提供者(HCP)知识的定量调查,态度,以及与大麻有关的做法,以及与HCP和管理员的定性访谈。定量调查资料采用描述性统计分析,定性资料采用内容分析。
结果:共有71个HCP完成了调查,有12个HCP完成了调查,包括那些作为管理员的人,参加了面试。最大的知识差距与剂量和为使用大麻的居民制定有效的治疗计划有关。大约一半的HCP报告说,在过去一个月中,向服用医用大麻的居民(54.9%)提供护理,向服用非医用大麻的居民提供护理的四分之一(25.4%)。大多数受访者(81.7%)表示缺乏知识,有关医用大麻的教育或信息是LTC使用医用大麻的障碍。从定性数据来看,我们确定了关于HCPs态度的四个关键发现,大麻的获取和使用,使用大麻的障碍,和非医用大麻的使用。
结论:随着医疗和非医疗大麻在世界各地的司法管辖区合法化,LTC设施将有义务制定政策,能够以尊重和知情的方式容纳居民使用大麻的程序和医疗保健服务。