A new study set to be published in the October 2024 issue of The Journal of Nurse Practitioners finds that medical cannabis can significantly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain.
Conducted at a medical cannabis clinic in rural Appalachia, Virginia, by researchers from Old Dominion University, the study surveyed 31 individuals. An online simultaneous pre-post–cross-sectional survey was used.
“Generally, respondents were informed about medical cannabis use but lacked knowledge about cannabis varieties and medicinal properties”, notes the study’s abstracr. “Respondents were more likely to obtain information about medical cannabis from nurse practitioners. Moreover, health and well-being improved significantly after medical cannabis was added to the treatment regimen.”
Researchers found that prescription medication use decreased significantly. In addition, “Quality of life and symptom intensity improved significantly.”
After conducting the study, researchers concluded:
Medical cannabis should be considered an alternative treatment for patients who suffer from anxiety, depression, insomnia, or chronic pain. Patients should feel comfortable discussing medical cannabis with their providers. Increased provider knowledge about medical cannabis use and benefits may increase their willingness to provide access for patients managing chronic conditions in Virginia’s Appalachian region.
For the full study, click here.
