What is the QUEST study?
The QUality of life Evaluation STudy (Global QUEST Initiative), conducted by researchers at Curtin University, aims to be the world’s largest longitudinal clinical study investigating the quality of life and health economic impact of medicinal cannabis on patients with chronic conditions.
Participants can join the study for as long as they’d like to be involved and there are a small number of assessments to be performed via online questionnaires. Participants will need to book a doctor consultation to be enrolled and to get a medical cannabis prescription.
The cost of the medical cannabis products used by all participating patients in the QUEST study will be subsidised from $125 per bottle or $110 per sachet.
Study enrollment in 4 easy steps
BOOK A CONSULTATION
Choose from a list of doctors and schedule a telehealth or face-face consult. Our team can also help you book based on your needs & budget.
START YOUR QUEST
If you are enrolled in QUEST you will be provided with a prescription for your medication along with instructions on how to arrange for payment & delivery.
Who’s this QUEST for?
The Global QUEST Initiative is seeking eligible patients who are:
- 18+ years of age and living in Australia
- able to complete the questionnaires in English
- able to provide informed consent
- have access to the internet or a smart phone
- suffering from a chronic condition with symptoms that have lasted for three months or more, and
- eligible for medicinal cannabis as a form of treatment
- have not taken any type of prescribed medical cannabis for four weeks before enrolling in the study (so researchers can detect meaningful changes prior to treatment starting)
Eligibility for this study and medicinal cannabis treatment will ultimately be determined by a consulting doctor based on your individual clinical circumstances.
How does the QUEST work?
Participants can join the study for as long as they’d like to be involved (and have a relevant cannabis medicine prescription) whilst it continues over a five-year period. During this time, participants will be required to pay for their own medication. Participation in this study means they will receive their medication at a cost from $125 per bottle, $115 per cartridge or $110 per sachet (which includes delivery). Involvement is purely voluntary, and participants are able to ‘opt-out’ at any time.
All patient assessments are performed via online questionnaires. Participants still need to visit their doctor for their initial consultation and any subsequent visits their doctor recommends based on their individual medical circumstances. For patients that find it challenging to attend consultations in-person, telehealth* options are available.
Participating patients who are deemed eligible by their treating doctor will have their medication delivered directly to their home via a secure medical courier.
Visit the FAQs page for more information
*Telehealth is available for patients but Medicare rebates for consults do not apply unless that patient has had an initial in-person consultation with their participating QUEST doctor in the last 12 months.
Information for patients
Before enrolment in The Global QUEST Initiative it is important to read the Participant Information Statement. This provides detailed information about the study and what is involved to help you decide whether you would like to take part.
If you have queries about enrolment, booking a QUEST doctor or receiving your medication please email info@thequestinitiative.com or phone 1300 664 369.
If you have queries about the study protocol please contact Karl Gruber, Research Officer,
at quest@curtin.edu.au
