Perinatal Cannabis Use: Nurse Perceptions and Educational Opportunities.

PURPOSE: To explore nurse perceptions of perinatal cannabis use, current nurse and patient education on perinatal cannabis use, and educational needs for nurses and patients on perinatal cannabis use.

STUDY DESIGN AND

METHODS

We conducted a multiple-case qualitative case study. Using convenience and snowball sampling, we recruited perinatal nurses who worked in U.S. hospitals to complete an online interview. We identified themes and subthemes using Braun and Clarke's method of thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Between July 2023 and February 2024, we interviewed 22 perinatal nurses divided almost equally among states where recreational cannabis was illegal (n = 12, 54.5%) and legal (n = 10, 45.5%). We identified five themes under the category of nurse perceptions of cannabis use: adverse maternal outcomes during pregnancy, maternal risks during labor, adverse neonatal health outcomes, acceptance of perinatal cannabis use, and management of physical and mental symptoms. Nurses reported on existing nurse education and patient education, with only nurses in states with recreational cannabis legalization citing specific patient educational needs.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our findings indicate an urgent need for development and implementation of nurse and patient education about perinatal cannabis use, particularly in states with recreational cannabis legalization.