Another issue of concern includes the fact that Table 3 provides additional details about the five highest scoring websites based on DISCERN instrument assessments, which may be of value to healthcare providers who seek to recommend online resources to patients about cannabis use for pain across numerous jurisdictions, even where medical cannabis is legalized, physicians report lacking knowledge and information, while acknowledging their need for greater and continuing education, on this topic (Kansagara et al. Similar findings have also been reported with respect to commonly used herbal products such as St. Two other studies investigated the quality of complementary or alternative medicine consumer health information for low back pain and neck pain, respectively, and reported that many websites did not adequately report the risks or adverse sideeffects of treatment options adequately (Ng and Gilotra 2020 Ng et al. Rising call numbers may reflect increasing availability of kratom and may be a consequence of BC's opioid crisis, with kratom used by some to lessen symptoms of opioid withdrawal. We observed a steady increase in kratom-related poison centre calls from 2012 to 2019, especially in young adult males. There were no deaths in 1 case, the exposed individual was intubated to manage agitation following kratom withdrawal. A concurrent drug exposure was identified in 13 (41%) cases. A total of 27 cases (84%) involved ingestion, with online distributors and local stores named as sources of procurement. Numbers were highest for males in their 20s (n = 17, 53%). Case numbers increased from 0 in 2012 to 9 in 2019. In 23 cases (72%), the DPIC was consulted by a health care worker. We identified 32 cases during the study period.
We describe changes in case numbers, reasons for exposure, concurrent drug exposures and clinical outcomes over the study period. We analyzed calls to the British Columbia poison centre to describe caller-declared exposures to kratom and the acute health effects of these exposures.įor this descriptive analysis, we accessed electronic records, including transcriptions and extracted variables, of calls specifying kratom exposure managed by the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre (DPIC) from 2012 to 2019. Kratom, a plant indigenous to Southeast Asia, which has been used both recreationally and in the treatment of pain and opioid dependence, has received little scrutiny in the United States and almost none in Canada. Given the growing interest in kratom, knowledge of the quality of information available can lead to improved dialogue between healthcare providers and patients. Those looking to purchase kratom online are not provided with the critical information necessary to make an informed decision regarding its use, such as the complete details about the risks and side effects or a description of how kratom affects the body. Individuals who seek information about kratom online are frequently exposed to poor quality consumer health information. The overall quality of websites was poor, as 78% ( n = 40) of vendors received a score of 2 or less out of 5. The mean summed DISCERN score across all 51 websites was 36.95 (SD = 2.44) out of 75, which reflects poor quality consumer health information across the subset of websites. Searches were conducted on Maand only websites presenting information in English were included.Ī total of 200 webpages were identified after screening based on eligibility criteria and combining different webpages that belonged to the same website, 51 websites were found to be eligible. This study investigated the quality of consumer health information provided on the websites of online vendors selling kratom to consumers in Canada.įollowing searches on Google.ca using search terms designed to simulate the information-seeking behaviour of a typical patient-user online, eligible websites were assessed using the 16-question DISCERN instrument, a tool designed to assess the quality of consumer health information. Given that kratom is not authorized for sale by Health Canada, many have turned to online retailers to purchase kratom due to its easy accessibility online.
Kratom has also been reported to relieve anxiety, improve stamina, and heighten physical performance. Amid a Canadian opioid crisis, many have turned to natural health products, such as kratom ( Mitragyna speciosa ), to manage their opioid withdrawal.
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