Evaluation of a Digital Educational Intervention to Enhance Oncology Nurse Professional Practice to Support Safe Cannabis Use: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION

Young adults (aged 18-39) diagnosed with cancer often turn to cannabis to manage symptoms such as pain, anxiety, or cachexia. However, few educational interventions exist to train oncology nurses in supporting the safe use of cannabis in this population.

METHODS

We conducted a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (1:1) to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a digital educational intervention grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior. Nurses were randomized to either the intervention group ( n = 35) or an active control group ( n = 35). Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and retention rates, intervention uptake, module completion, participant engagement (eg, log-ins, time spent), and questionnaire completion. Nurses' knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and intention to support safe cannabis use were measured at baseline and 1 month after randomization. Descriptive statistics summarized feasibility outcomes and sociodemographics; outcome changes were assessed using linear mixed effects models.

RESULTS

Participants were mostly over 40 years old (60%) and 74% held a bachelor's degree. Of 70 participants enrolled, 57 completed the 1-month follow-up. In the intervention group, 89% (31/35) completed the full intervention. The intention to support safe cannabis use significantly increased in the intervention group compared to controls ( P = .016).

DISCUSSION: This digital educational intervention demonstrated strong feasibility and preliminary effectiveness in enhancing nurses' intention to support safe cannabis use. Findings support the value of tailored, theory-informed educational strategies in oncology nursing and suggest the potential for scaling up in a larger trial.