Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Israeli physicians seem to be more knowledgeable about medical marijuana than before and more willing to consider its use by selected patients, according to a new pilot study in the Israel Medical Association Journal (IMAJ).
Researchers from Bar-Ilan University, Hillel Yaffe and Sheba Medical Centers and the Israel Defense Forces sent a 32-item questionnaire to 100 physicians of different specialties in the center of the country, and 72 with an average age of 50 responded. Male physicians were more likely to approve of medical cannabis than their female counterparts. Some 90 percent knew of at least one patient who was authorized to take medical marijuana for cancer or chronic pain, nausea, Crohn's disease, AIDS, multiple sclerosis or other conditions, while 60% had recommended the drug for at least one patient.
According to the questionnaire results, physicians recommended medical cannabis to some of the patients who asked for a prescription but not to all.
Most of the respondents rated their own knowledge in the field of pharmacology and indications as high or medium-high. Most of them knew of the new Health Ministry decision that medical cannabis would be given to authorized patients at regular pharmacies rather than other, harder-to-reach locations.
The researchers did not find significant differences in most attitudes among doctors of different specialties or at various levels of seniority. Along with more acceptance of cannabis for patients, a number of doctors feared that some patients might abuse the system and try to get a license for cannabis despite not being sick.
While the study was the first of its kind in Israel, the researchers said a larger sample of doctors from around the country was needed to assess physicians' beliefs on this evolving topic.
"We found partial acceptance among Israeli physicians of medical cannabis as a therapeutic agent, in particular for treatment in cancer and terminal diseases.
It is therefore assumed that he number of licensed medical cannabis patients will continue to climb," they wrote. But "more clinical studies are required to evaluate the safety and efficacy and to instruct evidence- based clinical choices," they concluded.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Israeli Physicians Slowly Warming To Medical Marijuana
Author: Judy Siegel-Itzkovich
Contact: JPost Feedback
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Jerusalem Post
Researchers from Bar-Ilan University, Hillel Yaffe and Sheba Medical Centers and the Israel Defense Forces sent a 32-item questionnaire to 100 physicians of different specialties in the center of the country, and 72 with an average age of 50 responded. Male physicians were more likely to approve of medical cannabis than their female counterparts. Some 90 percent knew of at least one patient who was authorized to take medical marijuana for cancer or chronic pain, nausea, Crohn's disease, AIDS, multiple sclerosis or other conditions, while 60% had recommended the drug for at least one patient.
According to the questionnaire results, physicians recommended medical cannabis to some of the patients who asked for a prescription but not to all.
Most of the respondents rated their own knowledge in the field of pharmacology and indications as high or medium-high. Most of them knew of the new Health Ministry decision that medical cannabis would be given to authorized patients at regular pharmacies rather than other, harder-to-reach locations.
The researchers did not find significant differences in most attitudes among doctors of different specialties or at various levels of seniority. Along with more acceptance of cannabis for patients, a number of doctors feared that some patients might abuse the system and try to get a license for cannabis despite not being sick.
While the study was the first of its kind in Israel, the researchers said a larger sample of doctors from around the country was needed to assess physicians' beliefs on this evolving topic.
"We found partial acceptance among Israeli physicians of medical cannabis as a therapeutic agent, in particular for treatment in cancer and terminal diseases.
It is therefore assumed that he number of licensed medical cannabis patients will continue to climb," they wrote. But "more clinical studies are required to evaluate the safety and efficacy and to instruct evidence- based clinical choices," they concluded.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Israeli Physicians Slowly Warming To Medical Marijuana
Author: Judy Siegel-Itzkovich
Contact: JPost Feedback
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Jerusalem Post
