263395 Health-Related Quality of Life among Medical Marijuana Users in California

Monday, October 29, 2012

Suzanne Ryan-Ibarra, MPH, MS , Survey Research Group, Public Health Institute, Sacramento, CA
Marta Induni, PhD , Survey Research Group, Public Health Institute, Sacramento, CA
Danielle Ewing, MPH , Public Health Institute, Survey Research Group, Sacramento, CA
Background: Research has shown that marijuana is beneficial for improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for those with serious medical conditions as chronic pain, arthritis, and cancer, especially when these conditions do not respond to conventional treatments. In California, medical marijuana was legalized in 1996. Little is known about HRQOL among medical marijuana users as compared to non-users. Population-based data describing HRQOL among users as compared to non-users may be useful in evaluating the utility of medical marijuana to alleviate or treat major illnesses. Objectives: To examine HRQOL of adults with major illnesses who use medical marijuana and those who do not, and perceived utility of medical marijuana among users. Methods: We will use preliminary data from the California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2012, an annual telephone survey that collects a representative adult sample on health factors. Information is currently being collected on HRQOL (self-rated physical and mental health) and medical marijuana use. Results: The survey was only recently fielded so the authors cannot comment on even tentative results. By October, the authors will have sufficient data to describe medical marijuana use in California according to HRQOL and perceived utility. To date, five percent of our sample indicated ever using medical marijuana and that it helped them with a serious medical condition. Conclusion: Using marijuana is becoming more accepted as a way to alleviate or treat serious medical conditions. The onus is on researchers and clinicians to better understand users of medical marijuana and potential benefits and risks of use.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
-Name 3 medical conditions that prior studies have shown that medical marijuana can alleviate or treat when conventional treatments are not effective. -Describe differences in health-related quality of life for those in California with major illnesses that use medical marijuana as compared to those with major illnesses who are non-users. If we observe no differences, attendees will be able to describe that no differences were observed.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Chronic Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the co-principal investigator on the medical marijuana module placed on the 2012 California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3079.0: Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Health Practices Special Topics Poster Session