Purpose: To identify issues in managing pain of children with cancer in the two pediatric oncology centers in Morocco.
Methods: Focus groups were conducted with pediatric oncology nurses and physicians.
Findings: Four themes were identified: (a) children's cancer pain is an overwhelming concern to the Moroccan nurses and physicians who participated in this study; (b) training and resources for children's cancer pain management are lacking in Morocco; (c) some impediments to pain relief were verbalized, such as a stoic approach to suffering and limited use of some drugs; and (d) a critical need exists for a comprehensive pain management approach for children with cancer in Morocco.
Conclusions: This study elucidated issues in managing children's cancer pain in Morocco and increased knowledge of current practice issues. A program of policy research has been initiated with the aim of establishing guidelines for practice policies for managing children's cancer pain in Morocco.