142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Development of a comprehensive measure to assess attitudes toward medical marijuana: Initial results

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Kelley Rhoads, MS, CHES , Department of Health, Human Performance, & Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Sasha Canan, MEd , Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Mary Hunt, BS , Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Kristen Jozkowski, PhD , Community Health Promotion, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Background

Attitudes toward medical marijuana are complex with multiple components taken into consideration. Most researchers pose a simple yes/no question to assess attitudes toward legalization. The purpose of the current study was to develop a comprehensive measure to assess attitudes toward medical marijuana among college students.

Methods

Twenty-eight items were developed to assess attitudes on four components relative to medical marijuana: benefits; risks; legalization; and legalization outcomes. Participants (N=304) completed an online survey that contained the newly developed items in addition to demographic, sexual health, and religiosity items. Data analyses included factor analysis using varimax rotation, Cronbach’s alpha, ANOVA, and linear regression.

Results

Factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution that accounted for 63% of the variance after four items were dropped due to cross-loading. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.93, indicating high internal consistency reliability. The ANOVA served to provide known-group construct validity as participants who indicated never using marijuana had significantly less favorable attitudes toward medical marijuana compared to those who had previously used marijuana [F(4,297)=23.12, p < .001] which was consistent with previous findings. Linear regression indicated attendance of religious services, political ideology, and marijuana use were significant predictors of attitudes toward medical marijuana [F(3,286)=8.40, p < .001, R2=0.19].

Discussion

Continued development and validation of this measure is needed. Long-term public health implications of legalizing medical marijuana have not been thoroughly assessed. It is imperative to assess college students’ attitudes on this topic as they partially comprise young voters who may be responsible for shaping future public health policies.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Explain the need for a more comprehensive scale to assess attitudes toward medical marijuana Describe the development and testing of a new scale to assess attitudes toward medical marijuana Discuss the implications of attitudes toward medical marijuana on public health policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-principal on studies relevant to substance use attitudes and behaviors among college students. In addition to my research interests, I have instructed multiple courses, either exclusively about prevention of substance use or inclusive of drug education, and have experience as a tobacco cessation counselor.
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.

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