Personal experience and attitudes of pain medicine specialists in Israel regarding the medical use of cannabis for chronic pain

• DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s159852
• Publication Date: 2018-07-30T18:43:46Z
• Authors: Haggai Sharon; Noam Goldway; Itay Goor-Aryeh; Elon Eisenberg; Silviu Brill
• Keywords: Legalization; Effects of cannabis

The scientific study of the role cannabis in pain medicine still lags far behind growing use driven by public approval. Accumulated clinical experience is therefore an important source knowledge. However, no to date has targeted physicians who actually their daily practice.Registered, active, board-certified specialists Israel (n=79) were asked complete a Web-based survey. survey was developed using Qualtrics Online Survey Software. Questions formulated as multiple-choice questions, and these addressed three areas interest: 1) doctors' personal experience; 2) medicine; 3) medicalization legalization.Sixty-four percent all practicing responded. Almost prescribe cannabis. Among them, 63% find moderately highly effective, 56% have encountered mild or side effects, only 5% perceive it significantly harmful. Common indications are neuropathic (65%), oncological (50%), arthralgias (25%), any intractable (29%). Leading contraindications schizophrenia (76%), pregnancy/breastfeeding age <18 years (59%). Only 12% rated more hazardous than opiates. On note, 45% prefer for themselves family member. Lastly, 54% would like see legalized Israel.In this survey, clinicians experienced prescribing over prolonged periods view effective relatively safe treatment chronic pain, based on own experience. Their responses suggest possible change paradigm from last resort.