Journal of Maine Medical Center最新文献

Introduction: Cannabis and cannabinoid use in patients with cancer has rapidly scaled up over the past decade and is a topic of considerable clinical, research, and public health interest.

Methods: We conducted a cannabis landscape survey among front-line providers in the MaineHealth Cancer Care Network (MHCCN) before applying and participating in National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored studies on cannabis use in patients with cancer. The results of the survey can better inform participation in national studies and provide a departure point for provider educational activities focused on cannabis use in the cancer care setting.

Results: Notable observations from our survey included a 58% (100/171) response rate, which signals awareness and interest in cannabis use by our provider teams. Also, 30% of providers/care team members inquire about their patients' cannabis use, 89% agree that cannabis can be effective for managing symptoms, 54% are sensitive to stigma surrounding cannabis use (as well as 57% of their patients), only 15% considered themselves knowledgeable, and 85% are receptive to learning more about cannabis use.

Discussion: These observations confirmed interest among our care teams to engage in cannabis-focused studies. They also paved a way toward participating in NCI-sponsored studies to address gaps in knowledge and the benefits and harms of cannabis and cannabinoid use in patients with cancer. Barriers and themes from the survey related to conducting research in this therapeutic area are discussed.

Conclusions: Longitudinal studies evaluating the benefits and harms of cannabis use remain scarce. Significant gaps in knowledge persist for both providers and patients, compounded by regulatory, ethical, and drug provision hurdles in this research area. Our survey results offer a foundation for educating care team members about cannabis use. Alongside participation in a large, first-ever national study, we outline plans for a small pilot study that uses an innovative application to capture cannabis use and product type.

Problem statement: COVID-19 was a once-in-a-century pandemic that hit the world in March 2020. Overnight, the SARS-CoV-2 virus threatened not only survival, but also food security, social supports, transportation issues, financial constraints, and more. Timely research became crucial to understanding how to mitigate viral spread, treat patients, and address the consequences and health implications.

Background: Advancing the infrastructure to support research in northern New England has been the focus of the Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research (NNE-CTR) Network since 2017. The NNE-CTR Network is a multi-year initiative in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire that brings together academic institutions, health care organizations, and local community stakeholders to foster new research and address health challenges unique to the northeast region. The NNE-CTR Network was well-positioned to help address COVID-19, not only locally, but also nationally and worldwide.

Application: The NNE-CTR Network's Tracking and Evaluation Core (TEC) assessed the NNE-CTR Network's COVID-19 research during the first 3 years of the pandemic. Using an innovative, arts-based dissemination method known as digital storytelling, the TEC summarized and shared the NNE-CTR Network's immediate and broad response to the pandemic. The analysis revealed 4 major ways the NNE-CTR Network responded to the pandemic: (1) quickly reallocating funding for early pandemic research, (2) providing innovative laboratory support and technologies, (3) collaborating in national research efforts, and (4) conducting research on a range of pandemic topics. The TEC used digital storytelling to highlight 18 research projects that addressed the pandemic.