Preliminary study of chronic pain patients' concerns about cannabinoids asanalgesics

Objective: This was a preliminary investigation of patients' beliefs about cannabinoids and the associations between those beliefs. beliefs about medi cation, and personal and pain variables with regard to patients' willingnes s to try cannabinoids as analgesics. Design: A self-completion questionnaire was used. Setting: The investigation took place in an outpatient pain clinic. Patients: Sixty-seven patients with chronic pain were involved. Outcome measures: The outcome measures were patients' stated willingness to use cannabinoids and the extent of their agreement or disagreement with st atements concerning cannabinoids and medicines in general. Results: Fifty-two percent of patients were doubtful about taking cannabino ids: unwillingness was strongly associated with specific concerns about sid e effects, addiction, tolerance, and losing control but not with general be liefs about medication or personal or medical variables other than age. Conclusions: The concerns of patients with chronic pain about taking cannab inoids as analgesics may reduce their utility and efficacy; accurate inform ation is required to counter this effect.