Physicians-in-training are not prepared to prescribe medical marijuana. (1st November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Evanoff, Anastasia B.; Quan, Tiffany; Dufault, Carolyn; Awad, Michael; Bierut, Laura Jean
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 180(2017)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2017-11-01
• Subjects: Cannabis -- Marijuana -- Medical education; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.08.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Highlights: Physicians-in-training are not prepared to prescribe medical marijuana. Physicians-in-training think education about medical marijuana should be required. Only 9% of medical schools have medical marijuana documented in their curriculum. Education can improve physician preparedness to prescribe medical marijuana. Abstract: Background: While medical marijuana use is legal in more than half of U.S. states, evidence is limited about the preparation of physicians-in-training to prescribe medical marijuana. We asked whether current medical school and graduate medical educational training prepare physicians to prescribe medical marijuana. Methods: We conducted a national survey of U.S. medical school curriculum deans, a similar survey of residents and fellows at Washington University in St. Louis, and a query of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Curriculum Inventory database for keywords associated with medical marijuana. Results: Surveys were obtained from 101 curriculum deans, and 258 residents and fellows. 145 schools were included in the curriculum search. The majority of deans (66.7%) reported that their graduates were not at all prepared to prescribe medical marijuana, and 25.0% reported that their graduates were not at all prepared to answer questions about medical marijuana. The vast majority of residents and fellows (89.5%) felt not at all prepared to prescribe medical marijuana, while 35.3% felt not at all prepared to answer questions, and 84.9% reported receiving no education in medical school or residency on medical marijuana. Finally, only 9% of medical school curriculums document in the AAMC Curriculum Inventory database content on medical marijuana. Conclusions: Our study highlights a fundamental mismatch between the state-level legalization of medical marijuana and the lack of preparation of physicians-in-training to prescribe it. With even more states on the cusp of legalizing medical marijuana, physician training should adapt to encompass this new reality of medical practice.