The safety, tolerability and effectiveness of medicinal cannabis for endometriosis: Understanding current and future use through focus groups across Australia and New Zealand

A total of 6 online focus groups were run between 18th June and 21st July 2021, comprising a total of 37 participants aged between 18-55 years across Australia and New Zealand. Inclusion criteria was that participants were currently residing in Australia or New Zealand, aged between 18-55 years and had been told by their physician that they have a diagnosis of endometriosis. These focus groups sought to explore the drivers and barriers for use of medicinal cannabis in endometriosis with both cannabis consumers and non-consumers, and secondly, to investigate concerns about acceptability and feasibility of medicinal cannabis as a potential treatment option for endometriosis pain and symptoms. Focus groups were recorded across the three age groups for each nationality and analysed using a qualitative descriptive approach and content analysis. Data from these focus groups is being used to co-design a clinical trial investigating medicinal cannabis for the pain and associated symptoms of endometriosis. This study was approved in December 2020 (Approval #H14115) by the Western Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee.