Barriers and facilitators to implementing brief motivational interventions for cannabis use disorder in routine...

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is an escalating global public health issue, especially amid growing legalization. Despite its cognitive, psychological, and social harms, many individuals with CUD do not access treatment, often due to stigma, limited awareness, or service inaccessibility. Brief Motivational Interventions (BMIs), based on motivational interviewing, offer a promising, accessible, and cost-effective approach to addressing CUD in routine clinical settings. However, qualitative evidence on the practical implementation and perceived effectiveness of BMIs remains limited. This systematic review aims to synthesize qualitative evidence on the barriers and facilitators to implementing and delivering BMIs for CUD in routine practice, as perceived by healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders. A systematic search will be conducted across PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus. The search strategy will incorporate four conceptual domains: cannabis use disorder, brief motivational interventions, implementation/perceptions, and clinical setting. Eligible studies will include qualitative or mixed-methods designs with distinct qualitative components, published in English since 2000. Methodological quality will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist, and data will be synthesized using thematic synthesis. The review will identify key contextual factors influencing BMI adoption and success, offering evidence to guide policy, professional training, and implementation strategies for improving cannabis intervention practices. This review highlights that successful implementation of Brief Motivational Interventions for Cannabis Use Disorder depends on provider readiness, training adequacy, systemic support, and culturally sensitive approaches. Addressing these multilevel factors is essential for wider adoption in clinical practice.