Attitudes towards and use of cannabis in New Zealand patients with inflammatory bowel disease: an exploratory study.

AIMS

We aimed to assess the use of and attitudes towards cannabis use (medicinal and recreational) by people with IBD in New Zealand.

METHODS

People with IBD were invited to complete an anonymous online questionnaire. Participants were recruited via postal mail using a hospital database of patients with IBD (developed by the Gas-troenterology Department at Dunedin Public Hospital) and via online recruitment (advertised on the Crohn's and Colitis New Zealand website, Facebook page and e-mail list). Inclusion criteria were ages 18+ and self-reported confirmed IBD diagnosis.

RESULTS

In total, 378 participants completed the questionnaire, with 334 eligible responses. Partici-pants were predominantly New Zealand European (84%) and female (71%). Sixty-one percent of re-spondents had CD and 34% UC. Overall, 51% of respondents reported having ever used cannabis. Of those, 63% reported use as recreational and 31% for reduction of IBD symptoms. Users were more likely to be younger (on average by 6.4 years), with on-going symptoms, unemployed or self-employed and current or ex-smokers. There were no differences by disease status or severity. Symp-toms most reported as improved by cannabis use were abdominal pain/cramping, nausea/vomiting and loss of appetite. Fifty-four percent of participants reported that if cannabis were legal, they would request it for medicinal use to help manage their symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our research aligns with previous observational research that reports im-provements in symptoms of IBD with cannabis use. Studies of a higher evidence level (eg, RCTs) would be needed to guide prescribing. In the meantime, this research provides useful background to clini-cians about patients' views and experiences.