As more states legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes, the role of nurses in facilitating patients’ use of this plant as part of their oncology palliation plan is becoming increasingly important. Medical marijuana can be used to alleviate a variety of pain, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), spasticity among patients with multiple sclerosis, and side effects of chemotherapy. Nurses who understand how cannabis works in the body can help patients navigate this new modality and determine which strains are best for them.
Ease of Access
When conventional treatments become ineffective, many patients turn to medical cannabis for relief. This is because it can help them manage pain, nausea, seizures, insomnia and more. In addition to being a safe, legal and effective treatment option, medical cannabis offers patients a way to avoid the negative social stigmas accompanying marijuana use. It also gives them a chance to live healthier lives, free from fear and anxiety.
However, despite the ease of access, it is still necessary for healthcare providers to provide patients with accurate information about the potential benefits and risks of medical cannabis and guidance on how to use it safely and effectively. This is especially important for primary care physicians (PCPs), who is the first point of contact for patients who choose to use medical cannabis. Although state laws vary, most allow doctors to make recommendations for their patients and verify that they are suffering from an eligible condition. Depending on the state, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists and midwives can also be licensed to offer recommendations. In addition, states that have allowed telemedicine services to offer medical cannabis recommendations enable patients to receive a recommendation without having to leave the comfort of their homes.
Convenience
As attitudes around marijuana evolve, more and more people are finding ways to access it without visiting a dispensary. And this trend has led to the creation of cannabis delivery services. As consumers look to cut out the in-store experience, they want to know that the cannabis they purchase is delivered quickly and safely. This means a lot of care must be taken to ensure the product is safe and packaged for transport. In addition, a good medical cannabis delivery service will use the latest technology to enhance customer satisfaction and drive efficiencies within its business. For example, GPS tracking for drivers can help dispatchers see where each driver is in real-time and send them to the next destination with ease.
Personalized Care
Personalized care is the delivery of care based on each patient’s unique needs and preferences. This is the type of care provided by medical cannabis, and it has been demonstrated to be associated with high patient adherence and low rates of adverse events. Patients prescribed medical cannabis often seek advice from their doctors or pharmacists about how to use it. However, most healthcare providers lack sufficient clinical knowledge to answer these questions. They may be confused about the effectiveness of medical cannabis and its potential interactions with other drugs.
Fortunately, second-generation AI systems can maximize these therapies’ benefits and improve patient responses. The combination of a cannabis product and a new big data resource focusing on clinically relevant endpoints can offer a profound market differentiator that can significantly increase the value of a drug. It can also reduce healthcare costs and maximize therapeutic benefits.
Convenience for Patients
Convenience for patients is a key factor that enables them to use medical cannabis to improve their quality of life. Some patients who experience severe pain or other ailments find driving or walking long distances difficult. They may also be worried about finding a delivery driver or being able to answer their door.
Medical cannabis delivery services that provide accurate ETAs and notifications can help patients prepare mentally or physically for a delivery. They can even allow patients to pre-order products for their delivery, making it easier to schedule their time to receive the order. In addition, cannabis deliveries that offer clients the opportunity to order their own supplies can improve patient satisfaction. This is particularly true in areas where access to medical cannabis is limited or unavailable, such as the remote parts of the country. Ultimately, medical cannabis delivery offers patients a safe and effective way to improve their health and well-being. This is especially important for terminally ill patients who want to ensure they have the best possible quality of life during the final stages of their illness.
Using an anonymous survey of a self-selected convenience sample, we explore the decision by terminal patients to engage medical cannabis for end-of-life (EOL) care and how the use of medical cannabis as a complement or alternative to EOL care affects their use of opioids and the severity of pain symptoms. We also evaluate how this may impact their engagement in palliative care and their quality of life.
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