NSB203: Medicinal Cannabis and Chronic Pain Management Analysis

This report critically analyzes the effectiveness and safety of medicinal cannabis in managing chronic pain in adults, focusing on both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The introduction establishes the context, asserting the efficacy of medicinal cannabis. The comparison section differentiates between qualitative and quantitative research designs, highlighting their distinct purposes, methodologies, and strengths. The critical analysis delves into the contributions of each method, showcasing how qualitative approaches provide insights into patient experiences and perceptions, while quantitative methods offer statistical evidence of benefits and costs. The report also discusses the lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of understanding research approaches and the role of medicinal cannabis in chronic pain management. It concludes that medicinal cannabis is safe and effective for chronic pain management and that both research approaches contribute significantly to the evidence base. The report also includes references to support its claims.

Running head: MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT 1
Medicinal Cannabis Is Safe and Effective For the Management of Chronic Pain In Adults
Brief Introduction
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Institutional Affiliation

MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT 2
MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Medical cannabis is safe and effective for managing chronic pain in adults. Both
qualitative and quantitative research methods have been used to justify the effectiveness and
safeness of medicinal marijuana in chronic pain management in adults. This written analysis
paper compares the qualitative and quantitative methods and critically analyzes the contribution
of each method in understanding the effectiveness and safeness of medicinal marijuana in
managing chronic pain in adults.
Comparison
Quantitative and qualitative research designs are the two major methods social scientist
use today. They are both utilized with a range of research methods and have remained common
trend in case studies. The basic purpose of both qualitative and quantitative designs is discovery.
Qualitative research encompasses the utilization of procedures which depend on findings
anchored on human behavior and reasoning. It involves research designs which stress the
gathering of information which is linked to naturally-happening phenomenon. The analysis of
gathered data never involves any kind of enumeration, however, it seeks to comprehend the
phenomenon (Balash et al., 2017)0.
On the other hand, quantitative research encompasses the utilization of statistics,
numbers, structure and control. The quantitative research uses methods which entail systematic
prediction, determinations as well as generalization of results in describing the collected data.
The underlying phenomenon are then compared with its quantitative properties and the same
comparison can be extended to educational aspects.

MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT 3
When these major methods of research are compared, it is evident that quantitative
research utilizes deductive mathematical models in the analysis of hypothesis formed in the
probe into natural phenomenon whereas qualitative research uses the past knowledge to form the
desired interpretations which remain more subjective (Wallace et al., 2015).
The other distinction between these two methods of research lies on the nature of
quantitative research which is being replicated as the collected data in the quantitative survey
might get analyzed and utilized in comparing a recurrent study at a later time. Qualitative study
is never easily repeatable since it is dealing with inductive data which can never directly be
utilized unlike data gathered from qualitative research covered at a later date (Nielsen, Murnion,
Campbell, Young & Hall, 2019).
Qualitative research has been criticized for being extremely subjective. The critics hold
that qualitative study is subjective because it is dealing with research of phenomenon in the
viewpoint of researcher. This makes it hard to duplicate the results gathered from qualitative
study since the interpretation wholly base on individual studies analysis.
The qualitative study’s reliability is thus doubtful when compared to quantitative study
that is regarded as more objective. Nonetheless, qualitative study might never be as reliable when
compared to repeat studies like quantitative, but it is more valid as direct interpretation of
collected data by qualitative researcher has a closer association with research objective (Savage
et al., 2016).
Critical Analysis of Contribution of Each Method
Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches have contributed to the
understanding of the risks and benefits of medicinal marijuana in managing the chronic pain in
adults. While qualitative approach has helped understand the subjective aspects of medicinal

MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT 4
marijuana, quantitative methods have helped understand the objective aspect of this
phenomenon. Thus, it is a correct argument that both the two approaches have been of immense
help to researchers in presenting evidences to back the use of medical marijuana in chronic pain
management (Nugent et al., 2017).
Qualitative research has helped undertake the probe into the behavior and reasoning of
people on the use of medicinal marijuana and has deducted that it is effective and safe to be used
amongst the adults to help them successfully relieve their chronic pains. On the other hand,
quantitative literature has helped present statistical and numerical evidence that has highlighted
the number of people who have benefited from medicinal marijuana. Qualitative research has
helped us understand the patient’s perceptions about the use of medicinal marijuana which helps
support its use in managing chronic pain. This is because patients have reported that medical
cannabis has significant health benefits which include enhanced pain management, sleep and
quality of life (Abrams & Guzman, 2015).
Qualitative research has also helped us understand the features of medical cannabis. This
is because the respondents have stressed the very modest potential of overdose with medicinal
marijuana. Through qualitative literature, we have understood the belief of patients that medical
cannabis is never additive. The qualitative literature has also help us understand the negative
effects of medicinal marijuana which include respiratory and olfactory consequences of smoking.
The qualitative literature indicates that while smoking it might give rapid symptom relief, oral
administration would result in a more sustained pain management, though more deferred onset
(Miller & Miller, 2017).
The quantitative have helped the researchers quantify the impacts of medicinal cannabis
in pain management. Through this method, we have been able to understand the cost associated

MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT 5
with such treatment. Being a numerical element, quantitative literature shows that while
medicinal marijuana has proven benefits in chronic pain management, the uptake is still low
even in the states where it is legalized due to the higher cost associated with such treatment. This
significantly contributes to the literature about how best the costs can be lowered to boost the
uptake of medicinal marijuana for its maximum potential to be realized (Ko, Bober, Mindra &
Moreau, 2016).
The qualitative study also allows for repeated studies unlike qualitative study and hence,
much information has been presented about the use of medicinal cannabis in managing chronic
pain. This has made it possible for researchers to continually identify the gaps in the literature
and probe it further to clarify the grey areas which help boost the understanding about the use of
medicinal cannabis in chronic pain management. Through such repeated quantitative studies, the
government has accessed to the number of patients who have shown positive outcomes from the
administration of medicinal marijuana and hence can justify its effectiveness and safeness
amongst these patients (Keating, 2017).
Discussion of Lessons Learned
This assignment has significantly expounded my knowledge of the two major approaches
of research; qualitative and quantitative research. I have specifically y been able to understand
the specific strength and weakness of each method when studying a given topic. This is effective
in my future work as a nurse since I shall have known which specific method I need to use at
what point in time. The knowledge gained from this paper will shape my future action research
project (da Rovare et al., 2017). This is because I have learned that to undertake an effective
research into a given field of study, I have to consider various factors and steps. Now I
understand that I need to initially identify the issue, topic or gap in the existing knowledge

MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT 6
regarding a field, for instance, the use of medicinal marijuana in managing the chronic pain in
adults which past researchers might have investigated little or overlooked fully. This, this
knowledge is effective because it will help me come up with the correct form of research
approach to undertake, whether qualitative or quantitative nature. I now have the knowledge on
how to determine the research approach based on whether the underlying issues being probed
can be quantified (quantitative) or assessed by behavior and reasoning (qualitative).
Another lesson learned in this assignment which will shape my future as a nurse is the
understanding that medical marijuana is effective and safe in managing chronic pain in adults. I
have learned about evidenced supported by both qualitative and quantitative studies to show that
many patients with chronic pain have had their pain reduced when given medicinal marijuana.
Thus, I will always cite this knowledge when supporting the legalization of the use of medicinal
marijuana in every state to help these patients who suffer great pain from their chronic illnesses
like cancer. I believe this lesson is most important in my future profession since the essence of
being a nurse is to ensure that the best interest of my patients are guaranteed (Haroutounian et
al., 2016).
Therefore, being that I can now choose the correct research approach coupled with the
knowledge of the effectiveness and safeness of medicinal marijuana in chronic pain
management, I now stand at a better position to undertake my own study to present even
additional justification for the legalization of medicinal marijuana. I believe that this will help
single me out as a distinguished nurse whose work is driven by the evidence-based practice and
this will make me become a well-sought after nurse rather than merely relying on the past studies
that might have overlooked the benefits of medicinal marijuana in managing chronic pain.
Therefore, I will always apply these two significant lessons I have learned from this assignment

MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT 7
to not only shape my personal but also professional development in my career as a nurse
(Abrams, 2016).
Conclusion
The effectiveness and safety of medicinal cannabis in chronic pain management are
increasingly being probed using both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. This
paper has compared these two methods of study to showcase their individual contribution to the
knowledge of use of medicinal marijuana in chronic pain management. Both these methods have
concluded that medicinal marijuana is safe and effective in chronic pain management.

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