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Patterns of Nabilone Prescriptions in Canadian Long-Term Care Facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2024

Emily M. Winters ,
Jennifer L. Gordon  and
Thomas Hadjistavropoulos Open the ORCID record for Thomas Hadjistavropoulos [Opens in a new window]
Emily M. Winters
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Centre on Aging and Health, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
Jennifer L. Gordon
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Centre on Aging and Health, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
Thomas Hadjistavropoulos*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Centre on Aging and Health, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
*
Corresponding author: La correspondance et les demandes de tirésàpart doivent être adressées à: / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Thomas Hadjistavropoulos, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada. 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada ([email protected]).
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Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to understand the prevalence and patterns of cannabinoid use among LTC residents across Canada. We gathered data on cannabinoid prescriptions among LTC residents for one year before and after recreational cannabis legalization. Multi-level modelling was used to examine the effects of demographic and diagnostic characteristics on rates of cannabinoid prescription over time. All prescriptions were for nabilone. There was a significant increase in the proportion of residents prescribed nabilone following the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada. Residents with relatively more severe pain (based on the Minimum Data Set pain scale), a diagnosis of depression, or a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder were more likely to have received a nabilone prescription. Our results provide valuable information regarding the increasing use of synthetic cannabinoids in LTC. The implications for clinical practice and policy decision-makers are discussed.

Résumé

Résumé

Cette étude avait pour but de cerner la prévalence et les tendances de l’usage de cannabinoïdes parmi les résidents de centres d’hébergement et de soins de longue durée (CHSLD) au Canada. Nous avons recueilli des données sur les ordonnances de cannabinoïdes parmi ces résidents pendant un an avant et un an après la légalisation du cannabis récréatif. La modélisation multiniveau a été utilisée pour examiner l’incidence dans le temps de caractéristiques démographiques et diagnostiques sur les taux de prescription de cannabinoïdes. Toutes les ordonnances prescrivaient du nabilone. Nous avons constaté une augmentation significative de la proportion de résidents à qui du nabilone avait été prescrit à la suite de la légalisation du cannabis récréatif au Canada. Les ordonnances de nabilone étaient plus courantes parmi les résidents souffrant de douleur relativement plus sévère (mesurée d’après une échelle de la douleur fondée sur un ensemble minimal de données) et ayant reçu un diagnostic de dépression ou de trouble de l’anxiété. Nos résultats révèlent de précieux renseignements sur l’usage croissant des cannabinoïdes synthétiques dans les CHSLD. Les conséquences de cette tendance pour la pratique clinique et la prise de décisions politiques y sont analysées.

Keywords

cannabinoidlong-term caredepressionanxietypaindementiacannabinoïdesoins de longue duréedépressionanxiétédouleurdémence
Type
Article
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , First View , pp. 1 - 8
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Copyright
© Canadian Association on Gerontology 2024

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