A cross-sectional survey exploring the knowledge, experiences and attitudes of Australian pharmacists toward medicinal cannabis

Abstract

Background Australian pharmacists currently dispense a wide range of prescription-only cannabis-based medicines. Recent regulatory changes will expand the role of pharmacists, allowing certain low-dose cannabidiol products to be supplied without a prescription in pharmacies. This harmonises Australia with many other countries where cannabidiol products are readily available to consumers. Aim To examine Australian pharmacists’ experience, knowledge and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis and their preparedness to supply over-the-counter low-dose cannabidiol products. Method We conducted a cross-sectional study using a 51-item on-line questionnaire that was informed by previous surveys of health professionals and assessed for face validity. Australian pharmacists were recruited to complete the survey between May and December 2021, primarily through professional pharmacy organisations. Pharmacists were included in the final dataset if they completed the demographic characteristics section and at least one additional section of the questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and relational statistical tests. Results There were 272 attempts to complete this survey and 217 responses included in the final dataset. Over half of the respondents (60.0%, 130/217) had dispensed at least one medicinal cannabis prescription during their career and 58.5% (127/217) had received at least one medicinal cannabis enquiry in the last fortnight. Only around half (53.9%, 117/217) felt comfortable supplying medicinal cannabis products and fewer (39.3%, 79/201) were confident discussing cannabis-related enquiries. More than half of the respondents (58.7%, 118/201) supported the provision of low-dose cannabidiol products through pharmacies. Two-thirds (67.8%, 80/118) of respondents achieved relatively low scores (< 60%) in the knowledge component of the survey. Most respondents (94.2%, 178/189) endorsed a need for further training in this area. Conclusion Australian pharmacists tended to support medicinal cannabis availability and improved access to low-dose cannabidiol products via pharmacies. However, results highlight a need for improved training and education of pharmacists around cannabis-based medicines.

Conscientious objection – a cross-sectional, vignette-based, mixed methods exploration of Australian pharmacists’ perspectives

“…The sample calculated was based on the number of registered pharmacists in Australia in 2020 ( n = 32,777) (Pharmacy Board of Australia AHPRA, 2020 ), with a 95% CI, an accepted margin of error of 7%, and the response distribution of 50%; generating a recommended sample size of 195 using an online sample size calculator (Maple Tech International LLC, 2023 ). This was in keeping with sizes of similar questionnaires of healthcare professionals in the literature and resourcing constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic (Bawa et al, 2022 ; Benson et al, 2020 ; Karanges et al, 2018 ; Lakens, 2022 ). Calculator.net ™ was the online sample size calculator utilised to calculate the study sample size (Maple Tech International LLC, 2023 ).…”

Knowledge and Attitudes of Cannabidiol in Croatia among Students, Physicians, and Pharmacists

“…The sample of students included medical, pharmacy, and health science students. Both questionnaires were developed by the researcher and were based on a literature review of this particular topic [ 10 , 12 , 28 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ].…”

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