Cannabis Use and Symptom Management Among People Living with HIV: A Cross-Sectional Survey

 
A green banner that says "New survey on the use of cannabis for HIV symptom management." There is a drawing of a cannabis plant and the UVic and CIHR logos
Our survey on cannabis use for HIV symptom management is now live in English and French. See links below.

Funding body: CIHR

Background: 

The objective of this study is to better understand the experience of people living with HIV (PLWH) who use cannabis for symptom management (i.e., for therapeutic or medical purposes). Specifically, the survey seeks to survey PLWH on three main domains of that experience:

  • Cannabis use for symptom management
  • Impact of cannabis legalization
  • Impact of COVID-19

The proposed study addresses significant research gaps in Canada and internationally. In the field of HIV, there has been limited research on symptoms and symptom management – especially in the last decade. Most of the research on this topic was produced at a time when symptoms were AIDS-related or caused primarily by serious drug toxicities. Furthermore, studies on cannabis use among PLWH have been almost exclusively conducted in countries and states where cannabis is illegal. As such, this study will bring a unique understanding of the impact that legalization will have on cannabis use and symptom management among PLWH. It will also shed some light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cannabis use and access.

Progress to date:

Recruitment and data collection in progress. Survey has now launched.

Researchers