Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Pharmacy Graduates about Opioids Prescription and Dispensation in 2022 in Bamako, Mali

Abstract

Opioids are medications with analgesic properties used primarily as painkillers. Nowadays, off-label uses (non-medical use, prolonged use, misuse and use without a medical supervision) are common inducing drug dependence with harmful consequences including substance-induced psychosis or pharmacopsychosis. In a cross-sectional study from February to June 2021, we used a questionnaire to collect information on the knowledge of interns and doctors trained in the Faculty of Medicine and Dental Medicine and the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Sciences, Bamako Techniques and Technologies (USTTB) on opioids in eight (8) public health facilities (5 university hospitals and 3 district hospitals) in Bamako. We analyzed the data with SPSS software version 25.0. A total of 400 health workers participated in the study with 62.5% of medical students (250/400), 31.0% of pharmacy students (124/400) and 6.5% of general practitioners (26/400). More than 70.0% of our respondents were aware that there is a regulatory framework for prescribing and dispensing opioids in Mali. Level 2 opioids were dispensed in 29.0% of cases at the patient’s verbal request and 30.6% by telephone. However, level 3 opioids were dispensed in 0.8% of cases at the patient’s verbal request and in 3.2% of cases by telephone call. Medical students in 60.0%, pharmacy students in 64.5% and general practitioners in 50.0% had very good knowledge about the risks of opioid use. For 23.0%, general practitioners had at least a good knowledge of opioid indications. Participants had a good understanding of the risks and benefits of opioids. Keywords: Attitudes, Knowledge, Opioïds, Mali