COMIRB Protocol Number: 13-2387 PI: Madeline Cole, MS-III Michael Chan, MS-III Dan Matlock, MD MPH Dear Fellow Medical Student, We are conducting a study to assess the attitudes and experiences of medical students with regard to medical marijuana. As part of this study, we are asking University of Colorado medical students to fill out the attached brief, anonymous survey of opinions regarding medical use of marijuana. This survey is voluntary. If you choose to participate, we ask that you answer the questions honestly and to the best of your ability. This survey is completely anonymous. Do NOT put your name anywhere on this survey. Participation in this survey is voluntary. Feel free to skip any questions that you do not want to answer. This study is NOT associated with Student Affairs, the Dean s Office, or the School of Medicine Administration. Neither your participation nor your responses to this survey will affect your academic or professional standing at the University of Colorado. Results of this study will be used for independent research purposes, and aggregated results may be included in future academic publications and/or presentations. Results will not be shared with the School of Medicine Administration outside of this context Thank you for your participation! Sincerely, Madeline, Michael, and Dan Questions: ColoradoMMJStudy@gmail.com
Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements: 1. If marijuana were legally available, I would recommend the use of marijuana to a patient. 2. Under current law and practice guidelines, I would recommend the use of marijuana to a patient. 3. Physicians should recommend marijuana as a medical therapy. 4. There are significant physical health benefits to using marijuana. 5. There are significant mental health benefits to using marijuana.
6. Training about medical marijuana should be incorporated into medical school curricula. 7. Training about medical marijuana should be incorporated into residency curricula. 8. Physicians should have formal training about medical marijuana prior to recommending it to patients. 8. Physicians should have formal training about medical marijuana prior to recommending it to patients. 9. The FDA should reclassify marijuana so that it is no longer a Schedule I drug/substance. [Schedule I substances are defined as (A) having a high potential for abuse (B) having no currently accepted medical use in treatment, or (C) unsafe.]
10. Marijuana should be legalized for recreational use. 11. Marijuana can be addictive. 12. Using marijuana poses serious physical health risks. 13. Using marijuana poses serious mental health risks. 14. Physicians should have ongoing relationships with patients for whom they recommend medical marijuana.
15. Federal and state governments should abolish criminal penalties relating to consumption or possession of cannabis. 16. Additional research regarding medical use of marijuana should be encouraged. 17. A physician that recommends medical marijuana to a patient should be subject to action against his/her medical license. 18. A physician that recommends medical marijuana to a patient should be subject to legal and/or criminal penalties. 19. Elections should play a role in deciding the legality of medical marijuana. Strongly Agree
20. Law enforcement agencies (police, FBI, DEA, etc.) should play a role in deciding the legality of medical marijuana. 21. Elected and/or political officials should play a role in deciding the legality of medical marijuana.
Please indicate how acceptable you find the use of medical marijuana in the medical care of following conditions. 1= Very Acceptable 2= Acceptable 3= Somewhat Acceptable 4= Somewhat Unacceptable 5= Unacceptable 6= Very Unacceptable Cachexia Cancer Glaucoma HIV/AIDS Nausea Pain Persistent Muscle Spasm Seizure 1 (Very Acceptable) 2 3 4 5 6 (Very Unacceptable) Use this space to write any other conditions or situations for which you believe the use of medical marijuana is appropriate:
Sources of information from which I learn (or have learned) about medical marijuana include all of the following: Check all that Apply Medical literature Classroom Lectures Physicians Experiences with patients Other students Friends/family use (Medical) Friends/family use (Recreational) Personal Use (Recreational) Personal Use (Medical) Marijuana dispensary owners/workers University Policy Other sources of information from which I learn (or have learned) about medical marijuana:
Demographic Information Please do not include your name. How old are you? 24 years old or younger 25-39 years old 30-34 years old 35 years old or greater What is your gender? Female Male Prefer Not To Respond Prior to beginning medical school, for how many total years have you lived in Colorado? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20+
What other degrees have you previously completed? Bachelor s Degree Master s Degree (including MPH) Doctoral Degree Other: Have you ever used marijuana or cannabis? Yes No In the past year, have you used marijuana or cannabis? Yes No In the past month, have you used marijuana or cannabis? Yes No In the past week, have you used marijuana or cannabis? Yes No Has a physician ever given you a formal recommendation for medical marijuana use (i.e. medical marijuana card)? Yes, I currently possess a valid medical marijuana recommendation Yes, I have previously been given a medical marijuana recommendation that has since expired No, I have never received a medical marijuana recommendation
What year of medical school are you currently in? MSTP students and off-cycle students should only indicate the class year they are currently in (or year most recently completed if not currently taking medical school coursework). First Year (MS-I) Second Year (MS-II) What is your anticipated or desired specialty or subspecialty? Do you plan to practice medicine in a rural setting? Yes No Don't Know Do you plan to practice medicine in an urban setting? Yes No Don't Know Do you plan to practice medicine in an academic setting? Yes No Don't Know Please add any comments you wish to share about medical marijuana below:
[The following list of questions were only distributed to 3 rd and 4 th year medical students.] Clinical Care & Medical Marijuana and Cannabinoids Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements: 1. During medical school, I have been involved in the clinical care of a patient using marijuana for medicinal purposes. Yes No 2. During medical school, I have witnessed a physician recommend the medicinal use of marijuana to a patient through the State of Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry. Yes No 3. During medical school, I have witnessed a physician informally recommend the medicinal use of marijuana to a patient. Yes No 4. During medical school, I have witnessed a physician act unprofessionally towards a patient based on medical marijuana use. 5. In a LECTURE setting I have been presented with adequate information about risks and/or benefits of marijuana use. 6. In a LECTURE setting, the use of medical marijuana is accepted as a serious treatment by instructors.
7. In a CLINICAL setting I have been presented with adequate information about risks and/or benefits of marijuana use. 8. In a CLINICAL setting, the use of medical marijuana is accepted as a serious treatment by physicians. 9. I feel adequately knowledgeable to counsel a patient about marijuana use. 10. The topic of medical marijuana is discussed professionally in medical school lectures. 11. The topic of medical marijuana is discussed professionally in clinical settings.
12. Clinical preceptors that I have worked with are knowledgeable about the medical effects of marijuana use. 13. Clinical preceptors that I have worked with are knowledgeable about recent literature investigating the medical effects of marijuana use. 14. I have been involved in the clinical care of a patient using prescription pharmaceutical cannabinoid medications. (Dronabinol [Marinol], Nabilone [Cesamet], etc) Yes No 15. I have witnessed a physician prescribe prescription pharmaceutical cannabinoid medications to a patient. (Dronabinol [Marinol], Nabilone [Cesamet], etc) Yes No 16. In a LECTURE setting, the use of prescription pharmaceutical cannabinoid medications is accepted as a serious treatment by instructors. (Dronabinol [Marinol], Nabilone [Cesamet], etc) 17. In a CLINICAL setting, the use of prescription pharmaceutical cannabinoid medications is accepted as a serious treatment by physicians. (Dronabinol [Marinol], Nabilone [Cesamet], etc)
18. In a LECTURE setting I have been presented with adequate information about risks and benefits of prescription cannabinoid medications. (Dronabinol [Marinol], Nabilone [Cesamet], etc) 19. In a CLINICAL setting I have been presented with adequate information about risks and benefits of prescription cannabinoid medications. (Dronabinol [Marinol], Nabilone [Cesamet], etc)