Suchergebnisse

Movement toward legalization of cannabis grows in the United States yet little is known about long‐term use effects. This study was an initial step in the instrument development of a patient registry questionnaire of cannabis users who will be followed over time. Cannabis‐using patients (12 females, 10 males) aged 20–64, were sampled from a Portland, Oregon primary care health center. Respondents completed semi­structured qualitative interviews describing methods of cannabis use, motivations for use, and perceptions of risks and benefits. Qualitative analysis used a content analysis approach to assess and extract salient themes. Patients smoked, inhaled, ingested, and applied a wide variety of cannabis products. All participants but one reported using cannabis for perceived physiological or psychological pain and several used cannabis to alleviate cravings for opioid medications. Other motivations included relief from suicidal thoughts and depression, anxiety, migraines, and neuropathic pain. Relatively few perceived risks as compared to benefits were reported. This study provides relevant insight into how and why these primary care patients use cannabis. Results will be used to construct a quantitative questionnaire for a patient registry that can provide critical information about long‐term use effects.

Given Peru's epidemiologic transition, this exploratory study sought to understand the role that primary care holds in Lima's medical system. Key stakeholders in Peru were administered semi‐structured qualitative interviews to understand the factors that influence the availability and quality of primary care. Five areas were targeted for inquiry: financing, the training of primary care providers, access to services, patients' first contact with the health‐care system, and treatment coordination. Interviewees described primary health‐care services as having a lack of treatment continuity, inconsistent record keeping, and often staffed by recent medical graduates with little primary care training, which can manifest to reduce the use of primary care services. Despite identifying numerous barriers to quality primary care services, interviewees remained committed to the principles of universal access espoused by Peruvian legislation and offered recommendations related to metrics, financing, technology, and workforce development to improve both primary care access and quality.