Recreational cannabis use is the driving factor for participation in medical cannabis trials in inflammatory...

Though medical cannabis (MC) may have a role in the treatment of pain and anti-inflammation in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD), evidence and data are rare. We evaluated IRD patients' attitudes towards the setting of a clinical trial (CT) with MC as prerequisites for the design of a prospective study in phytopharmacological translational research.

A survey was conducted using the innovative Chatbot app Asepha enabling patient-centered data collection. Data collected included sociodemographic and disease-related information, current pain levels, treatment satisfaction, health status, and knowledge about MC. Patients' willingness to participate in a MC CT and their concerns (e.g.fear of side effects/dependence) were assessed. Feasibility of Chatbot use was evaluated. R was used for data analyses.

250 IRD patients (67% female) were included. Despite high medication satisfaction (85%), more than one third was interested in MC CT participation, and additional 41% were potentially interested. Patients with previous recreational cannabis use were more likely to participate in a MC CT (OR 1.89). Furthermore, limitations in daily activities (OR 1.08), and bDMARD therapy (OR 1.43) increase the willingness. Lack of sufficient information about cannabis (67%), fear of side effects (40%) and dependence on cannabis (31%) are limiting factors for CT participation.

Chatbot use is feasible in phytopharmacological research. Three-quarter of our patients reported some interest in MC CT. Relevant predictors of interest were identified, with a history of cannabis use being the strongest. Understanding and controlling confounders seems crucial for successful planning and conduction of patient-centered future clinical trials in phytomedicine.