Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Legalization has increased cannabis availability in Canada. Research shows complex relationships between cannabis use and mental health, and a need for health care providers to engage with patients about cannabis use. Providers have noted gaps in knowledge and research on the medical effects of cannabis as barriers to service delivery. It is unclear how providers and patients in mental health care settings have been impacted by legalization.
METHODS: From June 1 to July 2, 2021, we conducted a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 20 health care providers in a range of roles (e.g., physicians, pharmacists, nurses) within a psychiatric hospital setting. Participants responded to open-ended questions with follow-up probes on various topics related to cannabis legalization. Topics included impacts on patient mental and physical health, clinical impacts, education and training, legal cannabis retail system and the medical cannabis access system.
RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified several themes in the data. Participants reported that legalization has had some positive impacts relating to clinical care and cannabis safety. They also expressed concerns with increased rates of cannabis use, risks to mental health and ongoing challenges engaging with patients about cannabis. Participants made recommendations for medical educators and regulators (e.g., updated curriculums, clinical guidelines), the mental health care sector (e.g., implementation of standardized screening), government (e.g., public health campaigns, safe use guidelines), the medical cannabis access system (e.g., increased regulation, research), and the legal cannabis system (e.g., zoning changes, point-of-sale information).
CONCLUSIONS: This study begins to address the paucity of data on impacts of legalization from mental health service delivery settings. Findings show that although legalization has had some positive impacts, there are ongoing patient concerns and unmet provider needs. More research is needed to understand the experiences of providers delivering care to populations experiencing mental health and/or substance use concerns who use cannabis in the post-legalization era.
METHODS: From June 1 to July 2, 2021, we conducted a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 20 health care providers in a range of roles (e.g., physicians, pharmacists, nurses) within a psychiatric hospital setting. Participants responded to open-ended questions with follow-up probes on various topics related to cannabis legalization. Topics included impacts on patient mental and physical health, clinical impacts, education and training, legal cannabis retail system and the medical cannabis access system.
RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified several themes in the data. Participants reported that legalization has had some positive impacts relating to clinical care and cannabis safety. They also expressed concerns with increased rates of cannabis use, risks to mental health and ongoing challenges engaging with patients about cannabis. Participants made recommendations for medical educators and regulators (e.g., updated curriculums, clinical guidelines), the mental health care sector (e.g., implementation of standardized screening), government (e.g., public health campaigns, safe use guidelines), the medical cannabis access system (e.g., increased regulation, research), and the legal cannabis system (e.g., zoning changes, point-of-sale information).
CONCLUSIONS: This study begins to address the paucity of data on impacts of legalization from mental health service delivery settings. Findings show that although legalization has had some positive impacts, there are ongoing patient concerns and unmet provider needs. More research is needed to understand the experiences of providers delivering care to populations experiencing mental health and/or substance use concerns who use cannabis in the post-legalization era.
摘要：
背景：合法化增加了加拿大的大麻供应。研究表明，大麻使用与心理健康之间存在复杂的关系，以及医疗保健提供者需要与患者接触大麻的使用。供应商注意到，在关于大麻的医疗作用的知识和研究方面存在差距，这是提供服务的障碍。目前尚不清楚精神卫生保健机构的提供者和患者如何受到合法化的影响。
方法：从2021年6月1日至7月2日，我们进行了一项定性研究，涉及对20名医疗保健提供者进行的一系列角色的半结构化访谈（例如，医师,药剂师,护士)在精神病医院环境中。与会者回答了开放式问题，并就与大麻合法化有关的各种主题进行了后续调查。主题包括对患者身心健康的影响，临床影响，教育和培训,合法的大麻零售系统和医用大麻获取系统。
结果：主题分析确定了数据中的几个主题。与会者报告说，合法化对临床护理和大麻安全产生了一些积极影响。他们还对大麻使用率上升表示关切，心理健康的风险和与患者有关大麻的持续挑战。参与者为医学教育工作者和监管机构提出了建议(例如，更新课程，临床指南)，精神卫生保健部门(例如，实施标准化筛查)，政府(例如，公共卫生运动,安全使用指南)，医用大麻进入系统(例如，加强监管，research),和合法的大麻系统(例如，分区更改，销售点信息)。
结论：这项研究开始解决关于心理健康服务提供环境合法化影响的数据不足的问题。研究结果表明，尽管合法化产生了一些积极的影响，存在持续的患者担忧和未满足的提供者需求.需要更多的研究来了解提供者向在合法化后时代使用大麻的心理健康和/或物质使用问题的人群提供护理的经验。
方法：从2021年6月1日至7月2日，我们进行了一项定性研究，涉及对20名医疗保健提供者进行的一系列角色的半结构化访谈（例如，医师,药剂师,护士)在精神病医院环境中。与会者回答了开放式问题，并就与大麻合法化有关的各种主题进行了后续调查。主题包括对患者身心健康的影响，临床影响，教育和培训,合法的大麻零售系统和医用大麻获取系统。
结果：主题分析确定了数据中的几个主题。与会者报告说，合法化对临床护理和大麻安全产生了一些积极影响。他们还对大麻使用率上升表示关切，心理健康的风险和与患者有关大麻的持续挑战。参与者为医学教育工作者和监管机构提出了建议(例如，更新课程，临床指南)，精神卫生保健部门(例如，实施标准化筛查)，政府(例如，公共卫生运动,安全使用指南)，医用大麻进入系统(例如，加强监管，research),和合法的大麻系统(例如，分区更改，销售点信息)。
结论：这项研究开始解决关于心理健康服务提供环境合法化影响的数据不足的问题。研究结果表明，尽管合法化产生了一些积极的影响，存在持续的患者担忧和未满足的提供者需求.需要更多的研究来了解提供者向在合法化后时代使用大麻的心理健康和/或物质使用问题的人群提供护理的经验。
