Medical Cannabis Against Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: a Mixed Methods Study.

Despite many pharmaceutical options, there are no optimal treatments for Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). Although many Canadians use medical cannabis (MC; legally authorized) to relieve their pain, there are no firm conclusions on the efficacy and safety of MC against CMP. In order to increase knowledge on this topic, it is essential to describe the current use of MC against CMP by Canadians and to understand patients' and physicians' perceptions and attitudes. Objectives: This study will evaluate the use of MC against CMP among adults and aims at: 1-Describing the use of MC in Canada, and the main characteristics of users and prescribers; 2-Identifying the therapeutic and adverse effects of MC from the users' perspective; 3a- Identifying the psychosocial, organizational, socio-demographic and health-related factors that influence the use and prescription of MC; and 3b- Quantifying the impacts of these factors on the use and prescription of MC in the management of CMP. Methods: 1) We will analyse available data on the users and prescribers of MC from Health Canada and from the Registre Cannabis Québec; 2) We will use mixed methods to collect data from patients affected by CMP and their physicians. Data from Health Canada will allow to document the prevalence and recent evolution of MC use. The qualitative phase of the second part of the study will identify obstacles and facilitators for the use AND for the prescribing of MC against CMP, including the need for more information in patients suffering from CMP and in physicians. Reasoned samples of patients and physicians will be recruited; information will then be collected by semi-structured interviews. For the quantitative phase, a pan-Canadian survey will be conducted, using a questionnaire built with the results of the qualitative phase of the study. The proposed study will describe the current use of MC against CMP in Canada and will allow to better understand the motivations and expectations of physicians an