RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Real-World Evidence in Patient-Reported Outcomes for Medical Cannabis (MC-RWE)

This study, called MC-RWE, is designed for people in the UK who are considering or already using medical cannabis for conditions like ongoing pain, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, depression, or epilepsy. We want to understand how effective medical cannabis is in the real world for these conditions. Participants will use specific, approved medical cannabis products and share their experiences through surveys about their symptoms. This will help researchers learn more about the long-term benefits of medical cannabis, including how different types and doses might work best, and how people can get a consistent product to help manage their health over time. Your participation could help improve future treatments.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University Health Network, Toronto

Enrolment target

1,000

Start

15 Jul 2020

Estimated completion

01 Jul 2027

Pain Sleep Anxiety Depression Epilepsy

What is this study about?

You might have heard more about medical cannabis recently due to changes in the law, and it's being looked at as a possible treatment for conditions like ongoing pain, epilepsy, sleep issues, anxiety, and depression. These conditions can significantly impact people's daily lives, sometimes with limited treatment choices available. This study aims to gather real-world information on how medical cannabis helps people manage these conditions.

While we have some information suggesting medical cannabis could be helpful, much of the research so far has focused on short-term effects. This study wants to understand the longer-term benefits, looking at different types of medical cannabis and how they are used. It's often tricky for patients to stick to the same type of cannabis product over time because products can change, making it hard to know what works best for them. This also makes it difficult for researchers to study its effects consistently.

This study will provide participants with specific, checked medical cannabis products. This means we can understand their experiences better, whether they choose to stay with one type of product or try different ones to find what helps them most. By carefully following what people use and how they feel, we hope to build a clearer picture of medical cannabis's effectiveness and safety over time, helping to inform future medical care.

Key takeaways

This study looks at how medical cannabis helps people with chronic pain, sleep issues, anxiety, depression, or epilepsy.
It aims to understand long-term effects of medical cannabis, using verified products.
Participants will share their experiences through surveys about their symptoms.
The study helps improve our understanding of different cannabis strains and doses.
Your participation could help develop better treatments for these conditions.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to be at least 19 years old. You should either be new to medical cannabis or already using it, and you must have a doctor's authorisation (a prescription) to use it.

Your main reason for using medical cannabis should be for ongoing pain, epilepsy, sleep problems, anxiety, or depression. It's important that you agree to use the specific medical cannabis products provided by the study and not use any other cannabis products, whether for medical or recreational use, during the study period.

If you use illegal drugs or recreational cannabis at the same time, you wouldn't be able to join this study. We want to make sure we're only looking at the effects of the specific medical cannabis being studied.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 19 years old or older?
Do you have a doctor's authorisation for medical cannabis?
Are you using (or planning to use) medical cannabis mainly for pain, epilepsy, sleep, anxiety, or depression?
Are you willing to only use the medical cannabis provided by the study, and no other cannabis products (medical or recreational)?
Do you not use illegal drugs?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you'll be using specific, approved medical cannabis products. You'll need to share your experiences through regular self-assessment surveys or questionnaires. These surveys will ask about your pain levels, sleep quality, mood, or epilepsy symptoms. The study is designed to observe how you feel over time, rather than asking you to change your usual routine much, apart from using the study-provided cannabis and reporting your symptoms. The exact number of visits or the total length of your participation will be explained in detail if you are considered for the study, but it is focused on long-term observation.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could help us learn more about how medical cannabis works for conditions like yours, which might lead to better treatments for you and others in the future. As with any medication, there can be side effects from medical cannabis. These will be fully explained before you decide to join, and the study team will monitor your well-being closely. You are completely free to leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Toronto General Hospital, UHN
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'real-world evidence'?

Real-world evidence means gathering information on how a treatment works in everyday life, not just in a tightly controlled lab setting. It gives a more true-to-life picture of its effects.

Will I have to pay for the medical cannabis?

The study details will explain if the medical cannabis products are provided free of charge or if there are any costs involved. This will be made clear before you agree to participate.

Can I choose which type of medical cannabis I use?

The study aims to provide specific, verified products. You might have some choice in adjusting the product with guidance, but you'll be within options permitted by the study to keep things consistent for research.

How long will the study last?

This study focuses on long-term effects, so participation might last for an extended period. The exact duration will be explained to you if you are suitable for the study.

What if I experience side effects?

If you experience any side effects, you should report them immediately to the study team. They will provide clear instructions on how to do this and will support you during your participation.

How to find out more

Sonal Thaker

sonalben.thaker@uhn.ca 416-340-4800 X 4251 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.