Evidence for different audiences about the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids: a four-year experience in knowledge translation

Article type
Authors
Ortiz-Muñoz L1, Perez-Antivilo M2, Bravo-Soto GA3, Morel-Marambio M1, Bravo-Jeria R1, Verdugo-Paiva F1, Rada G3
1Centro Evidencia UC
2Epistemonikos Foundation
3Centro Evidencia UC, Epistemonikos Foundation
Abstract
Background: knowledge translation (KT) is one of the main objectives of Cochrane's agenda in 2020. It considers four objectives to be met: Producing evidence, Accessible evidence, Advocating for evidence, and to Create effective and sustainable KT process.
The controversy about the medical use of cannabis and its derivatives is a highly relevant topic in Chile and in the rest of the world. Both public opinion and stakeholders look for answers from different sources. Our team developed a comprehensive KT process over the last four years, delivering accessible evidence about medical cannabis for all the medical conditions for which is proposed as a therapeutic alternative.

Objectives: to describe the experience of informing different stakeholders in Chile about the medical use of cannabis from a KT perspective.

Methods: using the Cochrane Knowledge Translation framework we illustrate the steps carried out for the prioritization, elaboration, adaptation, and diffusion of evidence about the medical use of cannabis.

Results: since 2015, and in the context of the discussion of a law currently in discussion in the Chilean Parliament, more than 70 researchers synthesized all of the evidence about medical cannabis for 84 conditions, and keep this continuously updated and freely accessible through the L·OVE platform (producing evidence);15 evidence summaries have been developed in the most relevant conditions, in both English and Spanish (accessible evidence); agreements with 20 scientific societies have been signed and presentations to patient organizations have been delivered (advocating for evidence); the results of the evidence have been disseminated by multiple media, including the front page of high-circulation newspapers, television news, among many others. The results have been presented in several conferences and meetings, including the 40th World Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) meeting on cannabis and cannabis-related substances and the 65th regular session of Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD)/Organization of American States (OEA). Multiple meetings with relevant stakeholders have been carried out by members of the research team and the partner scientific societies, including the Senate Health Commission, the Medical College Association and the Ministry of Health.

Conclusions: using a comprehensive KT plan we have been able not only to produce evidence, but also to reach a broad audience and engage with key stakeholders in order to inform decision-making using the best available evidence.

Participation of patients or health consumers: health consumers have participated in the prioritization of the evidence to be produced, in the design of the delivery formats and in the review of the content for different audiences.