Pharmacists' Perceived Knowledge of Kratom and Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids Before and after Education

Kratom and hemp-derived cannabinoid use has increased in the United States.

Assess pharmacists' perceived knowledge of kratom and hemp-derived cannabinoids and whether it improved following continuing education.

This cross-sectional survey was administered to participants immediately before and after attending a live, one-hour continuing education presentation regarding the pharmacology, uses, risks, and legality of kratom and hemp-derived cannabinoids. The novel, investigator-designed, literature-informed survey assessed the frequency with which they were asked about kratom and hemp-derived cannabinoids in practice, perceived knowledge of the uses, risks, and legality of these substances, and participant's perceived self-efficacy regarding counseling patients about them. The post-education survey also contained questions regarding perceived training value. Any pharmacist who attended the presentation and acknowledged consent was eligible to participate. Non-pharmacist attendees were excluded.

In total, 99 participants completed the pre-education survey and 63 the post-education survey. Most were never (81.8%) asked about kratom, while about half (48.5%) were never asked about hemp-derived cannabinoids, with 45.5% asked twice per month or less. Prior to education, most pharmacists did not feel confident discussing common uses, risks, or legal/regulatory status of kratom or hemp-derived cannabinoids and had limited understanding of distinctions between cannabis-related terms. Median pre-education scores ranged from 1-2 (out of 5) across all items. Following education, perceived knowledge and self-efficacy improved across all five items (all p<0.0001), each with post-education medians of 4.

This exploratory study indicated that Texas pharmacists' perceived knowledge of kratom and hemp-derived cannabinoids was low, but significantly improved following education on the topic. It also indicated they are not often asked about these substances in day-to-day practice, corroborating previous research that people who use these substances rarely discuss their use with their healthcare providers.