Patients AU-NZ_ Endometriosis, Cannabis and Insurance - February 2, 2023 - Be Damned Paper.xlsx

The study was approved by Western Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number H15099): An online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey was hosted on Qualtrics and was open between October- December 2022. Researchers recruited respondents through social media and email distribution to one of Australia’s largest medicinal cannabis advocacy platforms (Cannareviews.co). Inclusion criteria were women (and those assigned female at birth) aged 18 years or older; had a diagnosis of endometriosis from a doctor; were residents of Australia or New Zealand (NZ); and had consumed either illicit cannabis or a legal cannabinoid based medicinal product (CBMP) that was prescribed by a doctor (or via a clinical trial or nurse practitioner), after 1 November 2016, to manage endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain related symptoms. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, with the survey introduction and participant information sheet stating that completion of the questionnaire implied consent. The 88-question survey was developed by the research team and collected information on the severity of endometriosis and health-related quality of life in those with endometriosis who consume cannabinoids and explored insurance and law related issues including the self-reported impact of cannabis and CBMP on the use of other legal drugs and disclosure to primary doctor and life insurers.