P067  Cannabis Use and Crohn’s Disease: An Analysis of Online Patient Resources

P067  Cannabis Use and Crohn’s Disease: An Analysis of Online Patient Resources

 

Gupta Simran1, Atienza Matthew1, Houle Matthew1, Hennessey Megan1, Rao Sanjana1, Borum Marie1
1 George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, United States

BACKGROUND: There is considerable interest surrounding cannabis and cannabinoid derivatives as potential therapeutic option for gastrointestinal disorders. It has been reported that patients with inflammatory bowel disease are increasingly incorporating cannabis products into their treatment regimen. As marijuana has become more widely legalized and available, patients will often search the internet for information. Given the potential for variation in the reliability of internet information, a systematic assessment of online resources is valuable. This study evaluated the readability and quality of readily available online content concerning cannabis use in the treatment of Crohn’s disease.

METHODS: A Google search using the terms “Crohn’s and cannabis” and “CBD and marijuana” was performed to obtain the available websites. Websites were excluded if it was an inappropriate format (i.e. blog posts, general webpages, advertisements), inaccessible, or not specific for Crohn’s disease. Sites were categorized by intended audience: professional or consumer. The validated Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Calculation determined readability. The validated DISCERN questionnaire determined quality, with scores rated as Good (56-75), Fair (36-55), or Poor (<36). Statistical analysis was performed using Fischer Exact Test with significance set at p > 0.05.

RESULTS: One hundred forty-five websites were identified, with 100 meeting inclusion criteria. Twelve sites were written for medical professionals, 88 were for consumers. The average Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level was 12.10 (12.43 for professional sites vs 12.05 for consumer sites). The mean DISCERN quality score was 44.04 (57.17 for professional sites vs 42.31 for consumer sites) with no significant difference between website categories. Consumer sites compared to professional sites were less likely to report potential adverse effects of cannabis use (30.68% vs 75%, P=0.0024) and less likely to acknowledge areas of uncertainty (47.73% vs 83.33%, p=0.00009). 34% of the websites mentioned shared decision making with a medical provider, with no significant difference between consumer and professional websites (p=0.6023).

CONCLUSION(S): This study illustrates the potential shortcomings of online resources addressing cannabis use in Crohn’s disease, specifically with regards to readability, quality, and bias. The majority of websites were directed toward consumers. However, the average readability of both consumer and professional websites was 12th grade level which exceeds the NIH recommended 6th grade reading level for medical information. It is important to note that Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level calculation factors in syllables, and words like “marijuana” and “tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)” are common and can increase grade level calculation. The DISCERN quality scores for both the consumer and professional websites were categorized as fair. Furthermore, this analysis revealed a potential consumer website bias with limited discussion on cannabis side effects and uncertainty of effectiveness. It is important that healthcare providers have open conversations with patients regarding cannabis use in effort to provide appropriate counselling and quality resources for additional information.