Attitudes and Knowledge of Patients with Palliative Cancer towards Cannabis

Abstract

WHO estimated that 56.8 million persons require palliative care, including 25.7 million in their final year of life. This study aimed to study the attitudes and knowledge of patients with palliative cancer towards medical cannabis. The study design was qualitative research. The data were collected using in-depth interviews. The target group is cancer patients diagnosed by modern medicine for palliative treatment, Male or female, aged 18 years and over, admitted to 6 hospitals, from January 1, 2020 – March 30, 2023, number 20 people. The data were analyzed by thematic analysis. The results came out in 5 issues: 1) Attitudes towards cannabis policy included usefulness of cannabis in cancer treatment, cannabis as the only choice of treatment, right to grow cannabis, disagreement with re-criminalization of cannabis 2) knowledge towards the benefits of cannabis included cancer treatment, relief the pain, help sleep. 3) Knowledge towards cannabis cultivation included method of planting seeds: put 2-3 layers of tissue paper and sprinkle the cannabis seeds; cover with tissue paper again, and sprinkle with water for 2-3 days; it will sprout like bean sprouts and be planted in the soil 4) Knowledge towards care of cannabis plant: applying manure, cannabis plants will grow well, cannabis plants do not like too much water. 5) Knowledge about cannabis harvesting: collect cannabis when the inflorescences are mature, bring them to dry in the shade, and do not dry them outdoors in the intense sun because it will reduce the drug’s effect. Conclusions: patients with palliative cancer valued the benefits of cannabis, cancer patients want permission to continue growing cannabis. Suggestion: To consider carefully, if cannabis is reintroduced as a drug, there will be patients who do not have access to cannabis treatment. Quality of life and hope for survival because of cannabis will be diminished.