Abstract:
The medicalisation of cannabis across the world is a unique occurrence in the field of medicine. Not only does medicinal cannabis now carry the title of being a ‘prescription medicine’, but it has also managed to do so while circumventing the stringent clinical requirements that medical authorities place on almost every other new medication. Furthermore, medicinal cannabis carries a sordid history as an illicit recreational drug, making its medicalisation a controversial topic open to national debate. However, the decision as to whether or not patients can indeed access medicinal cannabis lie with physicians, who have now become gatekeepers of this highly contentious medicine. Despite the growing body of literature on medicinal cannabis and prescriber attitudes towards it, existing research appears to be mostly quantitative and lacks in-depth findings. This study explores how physicians’ professional knowledge and their personal perspectives may influence their prescribing behaviour regarding medicinal cannabis. A qualitative study grounded in the theories of institutionalism and personal constructivism explored this area through in-depth interviews with twelve New Zealand physicians
This research found that physicians’ prescribing behaviours are informed by a variety of factors pertaining to both institutional logics within their profession, as well as by the personal construals they have developed throughout their professional and personal lives. Themes found to shape physicians’ prescribing behaviours regarding medicinal cannabis include their approach to medicine, their relationships with their patients, perceived negative implications about being a medicinal cannabis prescriber, and their perceptions of different cannabinoids, uncertainties, and financial considerations. These findings extend the existing literature on physicians’ attitudes and perceptions of medicinal cannabis by providing rich qualitative findings. Furthermore, this study highlights meaningful opportunities for furthering medical education, which medical authorities and marketers alike may wish to address to improve physician knowledge.