Pattern of morphine prescription by doctors in a Nigeria tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND Morphine was reintroduced into Nigeria after a long period of absence due to technical problems relating to stock accounting. With this reintroduction, prescriber education was commenced in many centers including the University of Ibadan. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to review the morphine prescription habits of the medical doctors practicing at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and to assess the level of conformity with international guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS All the prescriptions on oral morphine in the hospital's pharmacy records within a 6 months period were reviewed. RESULTS The results showed that more than half (51.7%) of all morphine prescriptions were from the Radiation Oncology Department, while the newly created Day Care Hospice Unit accounted for 31.8% of the prescriptions. No prescriptions were seen from the Labor ward. Only 1.1% of all the prescriptions conformed to international guideline as contained in the "Blue Book." CONCLUSION The results showed that there is a need for more education and advocacy programmes to increase awareness among doctors about morphine prescriptions.