Article type
Abstract
"Background
With continuing legalization in the US and internationally, more patients are using or interested in using cannabis for health conditions. Robust evidence on the effectiveness of cannabis for health conditions remains limited, with relatively few randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, clinicians are increasingly being called to provide advice to patients on the health effects of cannabis, often in the absence of high-quality evidence.
The Systematically Testing the Evidence on Marijuana (STEM) project is an independent, methodologically rigorous, and updated resource synthesizing what is known from research and what is left to learn about the health effects of cannabis. The main goals of STEM are to empower healthcare providers when discussing cannabis use and identify specific research gaps and highlight ongoing research to help advance the field of clinical cannabis research.
Objectives
To describe how STEM (www.cannabisevidence.org) uses various types of knowledge to support evidence-informed discussions between healthcare professionals and patients
Methods
We developed a framework to identify and use different sources of knowledge in an area with limited evidence and a rapidly-changing research landscape. This framework is evolving in order to adapt to changing clinical needs and the emerging evidence.
Results
STEM uses a range of knowledge types and reports to support evidence-informed information on the use of cannabis. These include:
•Living systematic reviews of RCTs and nonrandomized studies
•Visual abstracts
•Clinical briefs
•Ongoing studies
•Curated news articles
•Policy overview
•Research guidance
We work closely with experts through our technical expert panel and a newly-formed research network. STEM also conducts research on the needs of clinicians and patients in clinical discussions of cannabis use and participates in various dissemination activities.
Conclusions
STEM achieves its goals by drawing on different sources of information to provide a range of materials for clinicians. Each source of evidence has strengths and weaknesses; however, we believe that using and combining different types of information allows us to provide up-to-date and accurate information to healthcare providers on the use of cannabis for health conditions, especially in an area with limited evidence and an emerging evidence base."
With continuing legalization in the US and internationally, more patients are using or interested in using cannabis for health conditions. Robust evidence on the effectiveness of cannabis for health conditions remains limited, with relatively few randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, clinicians are increasingly being called to provide advice to patients on the health effects of cannabis, often in the absence of high-quality evidence.
The Systematically Testing the Evidence on Marijuana (STEM) project is an independent, methodologically rigorous, and updated resource synthesizing what is known from research and what is left to learn about the health effects of cannabis. The main goals of STEM are to empower healthcare providers when discussing cannabis use and identify specific research gaps and highlight ongoing research to help advance the field of clinical cannabis research.
Objectives
To describe how STEM (www.cannabisevidence.org) uses various types of knowledge to support evidence-informed discussions between healthcare professionals and patients
Methods
We developed a framework to identify and use different sources of knowledge in an area with limited evidence and a rapidly-changing research landscape. This framework is evolving in order to adapt to changing clinical needs and the emerging evidence.
Results
STEM uses a range of knowledge types and reports to support evidence-informed information on the use of cannabis. These include:
•Living systematic reviews of RCTs and nonrandomized studies
•Visual abstracts
•Clinical briefs
•Ongoing studies
•Curated news articles
•Policy overview
•Research guidance
We work closely with experts through our technical expert panel and a newly-formed research network. STEM also conducts research on the needs of clinicians and patients in clinical discussions of cannabis use and participates in various dissemination activities.
Conclusions
STEM achieves its goals by drawing on different sources of information to provide a range of materials for clinicians. Each source of evidence has strengths and weaknesses; however, we believe that using and combining different types of information allows us to provide up-to-date and accurate information to healthcare providers on the use of cannabis for health conditions, especially in an area with limited evidence and an emerging evidence base."