Medical cannabis is becoming more widely available in many countries, including Australia. Since 2016, doctors in Australia have been able to prescribe cannabis-based medicines. Over a million Australians have now received prescriptions for a wide range of health conditions, such as ongoing pain, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Medical Cannabis and Long-Term Quality of Life
Ongoing health issues can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. Doctors use a tool called “health-related quality of life” (HRQoL) to understand how people’s health may improve over time. This tool looks at how a condition or its treatment impacts a person’s physical, emotional, and social well-being, including pain levels.
Understanding HRQoL is crucial when examining the outcomes of medical cannabis patients. The QUEST study in Australia examined the HRQoL, pain, tiredness, sleep, anxiety, depression, and movement in patients prescribed medical cannabis
Initial results showed that patients reported changes in HRQoL, tiredness, sleep, and mental health. A follow-up study looked at these results over a longer period, up to 12 months after starting medical cannabis.
Assessing Australian Medical Cannabis Patients
Patients in the study completed questionnaires about their health at the start of the study, after two weeks of treatment, and then at regular intervals for 12 months.
These questionnaires measured:
- HRQoL: Overall well-being.
- Pain: Level of pain experienced.
- Tiredness: Levels of fatigue.
- Sleep: Quality of sleep.
- Anxiety: Feelings of worry and unease.
- Depression: Feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
Patients with chronic pain or movement disorders also completed additional questionnaires.
Key Findings – Health-Related Quality of Life
The study included 2,353 patients. Key findings include:
- Quality of Life: The changes in quality of life seen after three months were maintained for up to 12 months.
- Pain: Patients reported changes in pain levels, especially those with ongoing pain conditions.
- Sleep: Sleep quality for patients was changed and persisted over 12 months.
- Anxiety and Depression: Patients with anxiety and depression reported a difference in their symptoms.
What This Means for Patients
The quality of life changes observed in this study of Australian medical cannabis patients are consistent with the findings of previous studies, including results from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. This study also showed changes in patients treated for conditions other than pain, such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Contribute to UK Medical Cannabis Research
For Curaleaf Clinic patients, there’s an opportunity to contribute to vital research through the Curaleaf Access Scheme. By joining, you can help build a better understanding of medical cannabis and its effects. Your participation in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry can help shape future treatments and improve patient care.
The Need for More Research
This study provides valuable information about the potential benefits of medical cannabis and long-term quality of life. However, more research, including randomised controlled trials and longer-term studies, is needed to give doctors clear guidance on how to prescribe medical cannabis for specific conditions.
