Survey of Medical Marijuana Knowledge and Attitudes In a Dental School

Medical Marijuana (MM) use is increasing, requiring healthcare professionals, such as dentists, to increase their working knowledge of MM. Previous studies have indicated that MM education is lacking in current healthcare education. Methods: A 50-question survey was created to assess, in detail, dentists\u27 knowledge, practice, and attitudes toward MM, and to identify possible correlations between answers. The survey was modeled after a previous survey conducted amongst practicing pharmacists. All faculty dentists, faculty dental hygienists, students and residents at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, were invited by email to participate. Results: A total of 277 surveys were completed. The factor that had the most abundant correlations was the opinion that MM is valuable for pain. This had a positive correlation with the opinions that MM may be better than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, and narcotics for pain control and risk/benefit ratios; that physicians and pharmacies should dispense MM; that recreational marijuana should be approved; approval of the current MM dispensing methods, preferring patients use MM, favoring MM if it were by prescription and FDA approved, preferring if CBD-formulations were used; and feeling that more research and education (as well as continuing education credit) are needed. Conclusions: Having more information and control over both the product and access to it might lead to increased comfort for providers. This would lead to better outcomes as well as greater communication between patients and their providers. Practical Implications: The findings of this survey suggest more MM education and research is needed — statements with which the majority participants of this study have explicitly and strongly agreed

Medical Marijuana Knowledge and Attitudes: A Survey of the California Pharmacists Association

Views on the medical efficacy and acceptability of marijuana have changed over the years. California was the first state permitting individuals to use medical marijuana. Even with a long history of use and widespread agreement around the effectiveness of medical marijuana, the literature is sparse about the role health care providers, including pharmacists, play in this interaction. The purpose of this article is to shed light on knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists regarding medical marijuana. We developed a survey for pharmacists about their level of knowledge and attitudes toward medical marijuana. The survey was distributed using SurveyMonkey. It consisted of 44 questions and an opportunity to provide comments. We collaborated with the California Pharmacists Association who provided a link to the survey in October 2017 to their members. Results from 474 responses indicate a majority of providers believe that marijuana has medical efficacy. Yet most providers report that they neither have much information about medical marijuana nor do they know where to get such information. One area of particular concern is the potential for drug interactions. Pharmacists would feel more comfortable discussing medical marijuana if it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Moreover, they believe more research needs to occur. The variance between California and federal policy leads to dysfunction among pharmacists providing information to patients. We believe federal policy should change

Surface Transportation Supply Chain Security: Creating a Blueprint for Future Research

Ninety percent of the world’s trade goods travel by surface transportation, using maritime, road and rail assets. The security of the goods in transit, the infrastructure supporting the movement, and the vehicles, are required to ensure that international commerce proceeds successfully. Much has been written about the surface supply chain itself, but little has focused on the security of these components. This report provides a guide for those wanting an increased understanding of the security issues that supply chain surface transportation systems confront and a blueprint to guide their future research