The importance of peer-to-peer learning in medical cannabis

The importance of peer-to-peer learning for healthcare professionals really cannot be exaggerated, writes Alex Fraser, patient access lead at Grow Pharma.

Doctors and nurses look to their peers for experienced guidance on how best to treat and manage their patients.

This is particularly pertinent in medical cannabis. CBMPs (cannabis-based medicinal products) are a family of medicines with a multitude of variables to consider when prescribing or managing patients. This is the reason we at Grow have brought together a broad range of CBMPs to ensure prescribers and patients have every option or tool they may require to manage symptoms.

Our portfolio now totals over 40 different CBMPs. Different THC: CBD ratios, different modes of administration, different strengths; understanding the implications of these differences is important.

At Grow we are dedicated to supporting HCPs and patients with CBMPs, utilising the wealth of experience and knowledge within our medical team, the cannabis-prescribing doctor’s and clinics we work alongside and the world-renowned producers whose medicines we distribute.

We’ve recently launched our HCP Portal, through which doctors can find out about upcoming educational events, see details of the medicines we supply and can access private secure forums to discuss the use of CBMPs with other HCPs.

There are already several online courses for healthcare professionals educating on cannabis medicines. In our view, these should be seen as an addition to peer-to-peer learning, not a replacement for it. Grow is pioneering peer-to-peer education in UK medical cannabis and, despite being a relatively new addition to the services we provide to HCPs, these sessions are already showing positive results with more and more prescribers entering the space having attended our first round of educational webinars.

Nothing can replicate the high level of learning achieved when a group is able to work through new concepts and material with other individuals engaged in the same work. Rather than clicking through videos and text, so much can be gained from being able to teach and be taught by one another, expanding perspectives and fostering meaningful connections with other HCPs.

Grow educational seminars

This is the premise behind Grow Pharma’s recently launched series of educational webinars. Aimed at HCP’s and focusing on various areas of interest within the field of cannabis medicines, these sessions include presentations from international experts, supported by some of the most respected producers of CBMPs from around the world including Tilray, Aurora and Columbia Care. So far, these sessions have focused on pain, rheumatology and mental health, with more coming up later this month and next.

Alongside detailed educational presentations, these sessions provide the opportunity to ask questions and discuss case studies and best practices with peers.

Upcoming educational webinar on clinical management of psychiatric conditions with cannabinoid-based medicines with Blake Pearson MD

With guidance from medical bodies on CBMP’s being limited, even with the recent guidance published by the BMJ on the use of CBMP’s in chronic pain, there is still a long way to go to engage the many specialist doctors who might prescribe cannabis medicines as well as GP’s who can refer patients to the specialist “cannabis clinics”. Whilst these doctors are the focus of our educational webinars, they are of course open to any and all HCPs interested in attending.

Pain and cannabis medicines: Everything you want to know (but were afraid to ask) – 11th October at the Royal Society of Medicine

Grow mission

At Grow our mission is to give CBMPs the role in everyday medical practice that they deserve and to ensure that patients benefit from them wherever possible. There is a lot of work to be done to achieve this mission, but with experienced clinicians, expert producers and the engagement and support of institutions like the RSM we feel that we are poised to really make a difference; to grow the understanding of these medicines and their potential and most importantly to improve patient’s lives.

Grow and Integro Medical Clinics invite you to join us at the RSM on 11th Oct for a day of education on CBMPs in the treatment of pain from experts in the field and experienced UK prescribers.

Growing Cannabis Education and Understanding

We urge anyone interested in learning more to join our HCP Portal to find out about our upcoming digital and RW events and speak to other HCPS or contact us directly to request a space on one of our educational webinars.

Read more: GMC must address serious concerns over BPNA guidelines