Prehospital care, though critical to injury survival, is largely unavailable in many low and middle-income countries, including Cameroon. Lay first responder (LFR) programmes train persons with high injury exposure in first-aid and emergency transport, but stakeholder buy-in from trainees and healthcare workers (HCWs) is essential. To design a context-appropriate prehospital care system, we evaluated barriers and facilitators of implementing a driver-based LFR programme in Cameroon.

In April 2023, we performed a mixed-methods evaluation targeting commercial mototaxi drivers and HCW in Limbe, Cameroon. Drivers were recruited for focus groups through union leaders. Trauma HCW at Limbe Regional Hospital completed Likert surveys and a subgroup completed semistructured interviews. Data collection focused on perceptions, barriers and facilitators of LFR programme implementation. Survey data were summarised using median and IQR. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated and analysed with open and axial coding using reflexive thematic analysis.

Overall, 92 mototaxi drivers and 34 HCWs participated in the LFR programme assessment. Among the HCW surveyed, 93% felt mototaxi drivers were capable of training as LFR but only 44% felt that drivers would be able to provide care safely. Interviews identified negative HCW perceptions of drivers, including drivers being uneducated and financially motivated, as key barriers, whereas driver exposure to injury was identified as a facilitator to LFR programme implementation. Driver groups demonstrated a positive perception of LFR training but identified unpaid time spent transporting injured persons as a significant barrier. Both groups described a need for hospital involvement in trainings and bidirectional standardised communication with HCW.

In Cameroon, driver-based LFR may facilitate increased prehospital care but further exploration of possible systems of collaboration that promote long-term success of the programme is required. Specifically, sustainable implementation will need to include clear bidirectional communication guidelines and provide driver incentive commensurate to effort.