Education, training, and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in Israel

Authors

Yuval Zolotov, Division of General Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States.
Offer E. Edelstein, Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: offere@bgu.ac.il.
Leslie Mendoza Temple, Integrative Medicine Program, Endeavor Health, Glenview, IL, United States; Department of Family Medicine, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
Mikhail Kogan, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
Shai-Li Romem-Porat, Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Alexander Reznik, Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Richard Isralowitz, Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-1-2025

Journal

Complementary therapies in medicine

Volume

90

DOI

10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103172

Keywords

Competencies; Medical cannabis; Medical marijuana; Patient education; Patterns of use

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Medical cannabis use is expanding globally, yet knowledge gaps persist among both patients and healthcare professionals. This study aimed to examine age-related differences in medical cannabis use patterns, sources of education and training, and perceptions of physician competencies among medical cannabis patients in Israel. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 233 Israeli medical cannabis patients assessed use patterns, education and training sources, and perceptions of physician competencies. Data were analyzed by age groups (18-33, 34-48, 49-64, 65 +) using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and ANOVA. RESULTS: Use patterns differed significantly by age. Smoking was common among participants aged 18-33 (40 %) and 34-48 (37.8 %) but less common in the 49-64 group (16.7 %) and the 65 + group (10 %; p < .001). Conversely, ingestion-based methods were reported by 65.5 % of participants aged 65 + and by 72.2 % in the 49-64 group, but only by 45.9 % and 50 % in younger groups (p < .01). Among 57.6 % of participants who knew the THC/CBD concentration of their cannabis, mean THC concentration decreased with age (p < 0.05), while mean CBD concentration increased with age (p < 0.01). Most participants (89.8 %) received education on medical cannabis, primarily from physicians (74.7 %), but 35.4 % used internet sources, and 20.1 % reported peer networks. CONCLUSION: This study identifies age-related differences in medical cannabis use patterns, information sources, and perceptions of physician competencies. Future research should explore how tailored patient education and clinician training can address these differences and improve guidance for medical cannabis use.

APA Citation

Zolotov, Yuval; Edelstein, Offer E.; Temple, Leslie Mendoza; Kogan, Mikhail; Romem-Porat, Shai-Li; Reznik, Alexander; and Isralowitz, Richard, "Education, training, and perceptions of physician competency among medical cannabis patients in Israel" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 6954.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/6954

Department

Medicine