TY - JOUR
T1 - Does religiosity matter? University student attitudes and beliefs toward medical cannabis
AU - Edelstein, Offer E.
AU - Wacht, Oren
AU - Grinstein-Cohen, Orli
AU - Reznik, Alexander
AU - Pruginin, Itay
AU - Isralowitz, Richard
N1 - Funding Information:
Gratitude is expressed to Drs. Toby and Mort Mower for their support of the Ben Gurion University of the Negev - Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research (RADAR) Center.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2020/6/1
Y1 - 2020/6/1
N2 - Objectives: To assess the relationship between religiosity and medical cannabis (MC) knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among university medical and allied health (i.e., nursing and social work) students. Methods: This study uses data collected from 540 Israeli male and female, Jewish and Bedouin-Arab, religious and secular students. Pearson's chi-squared and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables were used to determine the relationship. Results: Religious, compared to secular, students reported less personal cannabis use and contact with others who use the substance. Regarding attitudes and beliefs, religious students were more likely to believe cannabis use poses serious physical and mental health risks and were less likely to recommend it for patient treatment. The majority of all students, religious and secular, believed cannabis can be addictive; are not prepared to answer patient/client MC questions; and, have not received formal education about MC. Religiosity was not found related to student knowledge about cannabis and its use for medical conditions. Conclusions: This study is the first in Israel to examine the relationship between religiosity and student MC knowledge, attitudes and beliefs. Results evidence the relationship that should be used for curriculum development, education and field practice purposes linked to patient care.
AB - Objectives: To assess the relationship between religiosity and medical cannabis (MC) knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among university medical and allied health (i.e., nursing and social work) students. Methods: This study uses data collected from 540 Israeli male and female, Jewish and Bedouin-Arab, religious and secular students. Pearson's chi-squared and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables were used to determine the relationship. Results: Religious, compared to secular, students reported less personal cannabis use and contact with others who use the substance. Regarding attitudes and beliefs, religious students were more likely to believe cannabis use poses serious physical and mental health risks and were less likely to recommend it for patient treatment. The majority of all students, religious and secular, believed cannabis can be addictive; are not prepared to answer patient/client MC questions; and, have not received formal education about MC. Religiosity was not found related to student knowledge about cannabis and its use for medical conditions. Conclusions: This study is the first in Israel to examine the relationship between religiosity and student MC knowledge, attitudes and beliefs. Results evidence the relationship that should be used for curriculum development, education and field practice purposes linked to patient care.
KW - Attitudes
KW - Beliefs
KW - Israel
KW - Medical cannabis
KW - Religiosity
KW - University students
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084697249&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102407
DO - 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102407
M3 - Article
C2 - 32507425
AN - SCOPUS:85084697249
SN - 0965-2299
VL - 51
JO - Complementary Therapies in Medicine
JF - Complementary Therapies in Medicine
M1 - 102407
ER -