Perceptions of health professionals towards use of oral morphine for pain management in Kenya

Abstract

Background: Pain is as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with or resembling thatassociated with actual or  potential tissue damage. Pain, a core component of palliative care, is widely experienced by patients and is commonly undertreated  leading to suffering.
Aim: The study examined health professionals' perceptions and knowledge of using oral morphine forpain management in Kenya.
Methods: Data was collected online from health professionals (medical doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists,and clinical officers) in  Kenya between May and June 2023. A validated 21-point Pain Knowledge and Attitudes (PAK) self- administered questionnaire that  simultaneously assessed knowledge and perceptions towards the use of morphine was used. Responses were collected and analyzed. Results: The questionnaire was filled by 522 health professionals; 239 nurses, 136 doctors, 92 clinical officers,46 pharmacists, and 9  dentists. Their average score was 12.71 (60.5%). There was significant variation in results among cadres with doctors performing better.  Almost all respondents had received prior training on pain management but only half had been exposed to palliative care training.
Conclusion: Professionals with palliative care training scored better than those without. This study gives insight into what influences  health professionals’ practices around the use of oral morphine. It is evident that there is a need for more capacity-building initiatives  among health professionals on its use for pain management.