“The aim of this study was to explore the effect of health-care providers’ attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis, subjective norms and perceived stigma towards medicinal cannabis users on health-care providers’ intention to recommend medicinal cannabis for patients with qualifying conditions.
RESULTS:
More positive attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis were associated with lower stigma towards medicinal cannabis users, which, in turn, was associated with a higher intention of recommending medicinal cannabis for patients with qualifying conditions. The relationship between attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis and the intention to recommend medicinal cannabis varies according to subjective norms.
CONCLUSIONS:
Among nurses and physicians, stigma towards medicinal cannabis users mediated the relationship between attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis and the intention to recommend medicinal cannabis for patients with qualifying conditions, whereas subjective norms moderated this relationship.
Effective treatment with medicinal cannabis might be compromised by health-care providers’ negative attitudes, stigma and subjective norms.”