The Association of Sociodemographic Factors with Cannabis Information Acquisition by Cancer Patients
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Date
2023-05
Authors
Adley, Neema
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Background: Medical and non-medical cannabis is increasingly legalized in the US and, therefore, popularized, yet there is a paucity of research on the subject, particularly in a cancer context. Previous research examining correlates of sociodemographic characteristics with cannabis information-seeking behaviors are limited to gender-specific comparisons. In the present study, we examined how cannabis information acquisition by adults with cancer differed by age, gender, race, educational attainment, and geographic residence.
Methods: Between July 2021 and August 2022, 943 patients attending any of 8 Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center clinics were recruited in person (n=721) or remotely (n=222) into an anonymous cross-sectional study. Eligible patients were ≥18 years of age and were diagnosed with invasive cancer (all stages) in the past 12 months. Participants self-administered a validated, extensive cannabis-focused questionnaire in-person with a tablet device or at home via the internet. Participants were queried on cannabis information acquisition (e.g., provider recommendation of cannabis use, comfort discussing marijuana with oncologist(s), possession of medical cannabis prescription) and use, along with demographic information. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine associations between information-seeking behaviors and sociodemographic factors.
Results: Participants were, on average, 61.7 + 12.1 years old and were predominantly white (87.9%) Ohio residents (92.8%), and the majority had at least some college education (70.4%). There were more women (55.2%) than men and more non-Appalachian (82.6%) than Appalachian residents. Older participants (OR=0.40, 95% CI: 0.30-0.53, P<0.001) and women (OR=0.68, 95% CI: 0.51-0.90, P=0.006) were less likely to have ever used cannabis than younger participants and men, respectively. Older participants (OR=0.29, 95% CI: 0.18-0.47; P<0.001) were also less likely to be currently using cannabis. Participants with at least a 4-year college degree were less likely to be currently using cannabis (OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.26-0.76, P=0.003) and less likely to have received a provider recommendation of cannabis use compared to the least educated (OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.22-0.87, P=0.018). Higher education was also associated with a greater likelihood of having a cannabis prescription (OR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.05-2.08, P=0.025). Black participants were less likely to have informed their oncologist of cannabis use than white participants (OR=0.12, 95% CI: 0.03-0.49, P=0.003), and women were less likely to feel comfortable speaking to their oncologist(s) about marijuana than men (OR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.06-0.86, P=0.030).
Conclusions: Many factors (e.g., age, gender, race) were associated with differences in cannabis information acquisition. Results indicate that sociodemographic disparities exist, which are likely associated with differences in patient-provider communication quality, which is further affected by other features (e.g., implicit bias, limited training). These results add to a burgeoning area of research and provide insight for future research and clinical inquiry related to cannabis use among cancer patients.
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Keywords
cannabis, cancer, sociodemographic factors, patient-provider communication