TITLE:
Pain Assessment and Indications for Morphine in Cameroon: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey among Healthcare Professionals
AUTHORS:
Ferdinand Ndom Ntock, Dominique Anaba Ndom, Stéphane Kona, Jonathan Essoh, Wilfried Steve Ndeme Mboussi, Olivia Essoh, Esther Dina Bell, Gérard Beyiha, Paul Ndom, Junette Metogo Mbengono
KEYWORDS:
Morphine, Pain, Indications, Healthcare Professionals, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Emergency Medicine,
Vol.14 No.1,
March
16,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: To address pain management needs, Cameroonian pharmaceutical laboratories have undertaken the production of morphine and its distribution to healthcare facilities. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge regarding pain assessment and indications for morphine among Cameroonian healthcare professionals. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional Knowledge-Attitudes-Practices (KAP) study including 975 Cameroonian healthcare professionals between May and June 2025. Levels of knowledge related to pain assessment and indications for morphine, morphine’s mechanism of action and prescribing rules, as well as clinical practices concerning morphine use and pain management, were evaluated using a structured survey questionnaire. Results: Most participants were physicians (n = 897; 92%), predominantly from anesthesiology-intensive care specialties (n = 186; 20%), with 1 - 5 years of professional experience (n = 436; 45%), and working in public hospitals (n = 847; 89%). Overall, 80.3% (n = 783) of participants demonstrated adequate knowledge of pain assessment and indications for morphine. Only 1.4% (14/975) had adequate knowledge of morphine’s mechanism of action and prescribing rules, while 52.9% (516/975) demonstrated adequate knowledge of clinical practices and pain management. Most respondents (80%; n = 775) recommended the organization of regular training programs on pain assessment and indications for morphine. Conclusion: Knowledge levels related to pain assessment and indications for morphine among Cameroonian healthcare professionals were generally high, whereas understanding of morphine’s mechanism of action and prescribing rules remained very low, and practical knowledge of pain management was moderate.