Physicians’ Practices in the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy at Khartoum Oncology Hospital, Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Mona M. Taha

  Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

• Riham M. Hamadouk

  1. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. 2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Almughtaribeen University, Khartoum, Sudan

• Mohamed Thabit Ahmed

  Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Omdurman Islamic University, Khartoum, Sudan

• Elmoiz Babekir

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashreq University, Khartoum, Sudan. 2. Department of Medicine and Adult Critical Care Medicine, Ibn Sina College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

• Mohammed Basendowah

  Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

• Alaa Mousli

  Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

• Mohammed Ahmed Zahrani

  Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

• Sultan Almuallem

  Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

• Khalid A. Ateyyah

  College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia

• Bashir A. Yousef

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. 2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ibn Sina National College of Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7832-4556

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a clinically important and potentially dose-limiting toxicity associated particularly with neurotoxic anticancer agents. This study assessed physicians' reported practices regarding CIPN assessment, management, and prevention at Khartoum Oncology Hospital, Sudan. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December 2025 among physicians involved in anticancer treatment at Khartoum Oncology Hospital. A total-coverage sampling approach was used, whereby all eligible physicians available during the study period were invited to participate. Data were collected using an expert-reviewed and pilot-tested structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used according to the study objective to analyze the physicians’ responses. A total of 42 physicians participated (response rate: 79.3%); 27 (64.3%) were female, and all were clinical oncologists. Clinical examination was the most frequently reported CIPN assessment approach, used by 32 physicians (76.2%), while 33 (78.6%) reported establishing a baseline assessment before neurotoxic chemotherapy. During chemotherapy, all 42 physicians reported assessing CIPN, and 36 (85.7%) reported assessment before each chemotherapy cycle. When functional nerve impairment developed, 38 (90.5%) reported therapeutic intervention, and 26 (61.9%) considered physical therapy for patients with physical dysfunction. Gabapentin and vitamin B12 were each reported by 38 physicians (90.5%), whereas duloxetine was reported by 4 (9.5%). Only 8 physicians (19.0%) reported using non-pharmacological approaches for prevention and 6 (14.3%) reported pharmacological preventive approaches. In conclusion, physicians reported several appropriate CIPN-related practices, including baseline assessment, monitoring during chemotherapy, and treatment modification when functional impairment developed. However, important evidence-practice gaps were identified in standardized assessment, pharmacological management, prevention, and safety-oriented supportive care. Development of a locally adapted CIPN assessment and management pathway, together with structured professional training, may improve consistency of care.

1. Mona M. Taha, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

   Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

2. Elmoiz Babekir, 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashreq University, Khartoum, Sudan. 2. Department of Medicine and Adult Critical Care Medicine, Ibn Sina College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

   Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashreq University, Khartoum, Sudan

   Department of Medicine and Adult Critical Care Medicine, Ibn Sina College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

3. Mohammed Basendowah, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

   Department of surgery, faculty of medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

4. Alaa Mousli, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

   Department of surgery, faculty of medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

5. Mohammed Ahmed Zahrani, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

   Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

6. Khalid A. Ateyyah, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia

   College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia

7. Bashir A. Yousef, 1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. 2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ibn Sina National College of Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

   Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

   Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ibn Sina National College of Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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Copyright (c) 2026 Mona M. Taha, Riham M. Hamadouk, Mohamed Thabit Ahmed, Elmoiz Babekir, Mohammed Basendowah, Alaa Mousli, Mohammed Ahmed Zahrani, Sultan Almuallem, Khalid A. Ateyyah, Bashir A. Yousef

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