Table 1 Overview of manualized intervention
Coaching domains and content | Description |
|---|---|
Anonymity and confidentiality | Note that sessions are recorded and that everything will be anonymous and confidential |
Goal setting | Elicit health goals related to pain as well as how participant hopes cannabis might help achieve those goals |
Pain symptoms | Coach elicits information related to pain, sleep, anxiety, and any other symptoms of interest |
Cannabis use history | Coach history of past and current use, including intentions (medical vs. non-medical), frequency of use, methods of use, dosing, cannabinoid content, and noted effects on symptoms |
Clinical pearls (Bell 2023; Bhaskar 2021; MacCallum 2018; Boehnke et al. 2024) | |
Routes of administration | Education on routes of administration, including effect onset and how to fit use patterns together |
Cannabinoid content (CBD, THC) | Description of CBD effects (e.g., non-intoxicating, anxiolytic, potentially anti-inflammatory) vs. THC effects (e.g., gets you ‘high’, sleep effects) |
Dosing and titration | Suggest starting dose aligned with what was suggested in modified Delphi panels and emphasis on “Start low, go slow” titration |
Use timing | Aligning use timing with symptoms and practical considerations, such as not being high while operating a vehicle or at work |
Storage | Keep in dark cool places. Keep edibles carefully hidden especially if children or pets present in household |
Side effects | Overview of common effects of cannabis, especially related to plan for next time and current use patterns |
Development of plan for future use | Co-developed and dependent on participant preferences. May include identification and discussion of barriers and facilitators, plan for use as well as practical information like how to navigate a dispensary visit |
Confidence ruler | 0–10 assessment of confidence, followed by discussion of why the confidence is not higher or lower |
Plan for next time | Summary of what was discussed and how participant is planning to proceed in the interim. Followed up by email with key learning points and summary of plan for next time |