# Patterns of Marijuana Use for HIV Pain: A Mixed Methods Approach

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2020 · $22,183

## Abstract

Title: Patterns of Marijuana Use for HIV/AIDS Pain Management: A Mixed Methods Approach
 Project Summary/Abstract
 This Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship proposal aims to conduct a cross sectional study
assessing patters of marijuana use and pain among persons living with HIV (PLWH). This proposal responds
to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States for improving health outcomes for people living with
HIV. Additionally, this proposal will address NIDA’s goal of identifying biological, environmental, behavioral,
and social causes and consequences of drug use across the lifespan. PLWH have a higher prevalence of
severe pain compared to uninfected populations. Identifying predictors and alternative pain management
options have become a top concern in the field. Currently literature targeting patterns of marijuana use and
pain among PLWH has been limited to clinical control trials. Therefore, little is understood about how PLWH
are currently using marijuana to manage pain. Cross-sectional data from 936 participants of the Florida Cohort
HIV Study will be used to assess the relationship between patterns of marijuana use and pain severity among
PLWH. To achieve this, the first aim is to identify biological, social, psychological, and substance use
predictors of pain severity among PLWH. Biological, social, psychological, and substance use predictors
will be selected using the biopsychosocial model. A multinomial logistic regression will be conducted to identify
the strongest predictors of severe pain. The second aim is to assess predictors of cannabis use disorder
among PLWH reporting pain. Predictors of cannabis use disorder will be assessed in accordance with the
DSM-5 criteria. Severe pain will be calculated using a novel index. The third aim is to conduct thematic
open-ended interviews targeting marijuana use for severe pain in PLWH. These interviews will
specifically target perceived severity, susceptibility, benefits, and barriers of using marijuana to treat pain. The
results of this study will have a public health impact on the identification of predictors of severe pain among
PLWH, and the patterns of marijuana use among PLWH reporting severe pain. The training goals will
specifically focus on developing stronger measures targeting severe pain, clinical trial training, presentation of
findings, and manuscript production. The training goals will focus on 1) gaining clinical trial experience in
measuring pain, 2) enhancing conceptual and practical understanding of how marijuana affects pain in PLWH,
and 3) developing professional development skills, including first authored manuscript production,
scientific presentations, and grant writing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9939278
- **Project number:** 5F31DA047200-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Verlin Warneford Joseph
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $22,183
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-16 → 2020-12-22

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9939278

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9939278, Patterns of Marijuana Use for HIV Pain: A Mixed Methods Approach (5F31DA047200-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9939278. Licensed CC0.

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