Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State
Background: Faced with demanding training programmes, medical students may be more prone to use methylphenidate for non-medical purposes in order to improve concentration, alertness and academic performance. Aim: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the non-medical use of methylphenidat...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2017-01-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1006 |
| _version_ | 1818040220032958464 |
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| author | Roshini Jain Ch Chiech Chang Mpho Koto Alden Geldenhuys Richard Nichol Gina Joubert |
| author_facet | Roshini Jain Ch Chiech Chang Mpho Koto Alden Geldenhuys Richard Nichol Gina Joubert |
| author_sort | Roshini Jain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Faced with demanding training programmes, medical students may be more prone to use methylphenidate for non-medical purposes in order to improve concentration, alertness and academic performance.
Aim: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the non-medical use of methylphenidate and knowledge of this drug among undergraduate medical students of the University of the Free State.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed during lectures to all students in the five year groups of the undergraduate medical programme.
Results: Of the 643 undergraduate medical students, 541 completed the questionnaire (response rate: 84.1%). Approximately 11.0% of surveyed students were using methylphenidate at the time of the study, of which the majority (67.9%) used it for academic purposes and 70.6% received it from a medical health professional. Less than a third of users had been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Methylphenidate users’ median knowledge was greater than non-users, and methylphenidate knowledge increased from first-year and second-year students to third-year to fifth-year students. Median knowledge scores per year group ranged from 52.0% to 60.0%.
Conclusion: Methylphenidate is mainly used for non-medical purposes by medical students. Students generally have a low level of knowledge on methylphenidate. Specific information on methylphenidate should be included in lectures on stress management and study methods during the course of the medical curriculum. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:11:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-459d26fe58c64bb6a01baec871f2a4ab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1608-9685 2078-6786 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:11:04Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-459d26fe58c64bb6a01baec871f2a4ab2022-12-22T01:56:34ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Psychiatry1608-96852078-67862017-01-0123010.4102/sajpsychiatry.v23i0.1006353Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free StateRoshini Jain0Ch Chiech Chang1Mpho Koto2Alden Geldenhuys3Richard Nichol4Gina Joubert5School of Medicine, University of the Free StateSchool of Medicine, University of the Free StateSchool of Medicine, University of the Free StateSchool of Medicine, University of the Free StateDepartment of Psychiatry (G66), University of the Free StateDepartment of Biostatistics (G31), University of the Free StateBackground: Faced with demanding training programmes, medical students may be more prone to use methylphenidate for non-medical purposes in order to improve concentration, alertness and academic performance. Aim: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the non-medical use of methylphenidate and knowledge of this drug among undergraduate medical students of the University of the Free State. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed during lectures to all students in the five year groups of the undergraduate medical programme. Results: Of the 643 undergraduate medical students, 541 completed the questionnaire (response rate: 84.1%). Approximately 11.0% of surveyed students were using methylphenidate at the time of the study, of which the majority (67.9%) used it for academic purposes and 70.6% received it from a medical health professional. Less than a third of users had been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Methylphenidate users’ median knowledge was greater than non-users, and methylphenidate knowledge increased from first-year and second-year students to third-year to fifth-year students. Median knowledge scores per year group ranged from 52.0% to 60.0%. Conclusion: Methylphenidate is mainly used for non-medical purposes by medical students. Students generally have a low level of knowledge on methylphenidate. Specific information on methylphenidate should be included in lectures on stress management and study methods during the course of the medical curriculum.https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1006methylphenidatenon-medical usemedical studentsknowledge |
| spellingShingle | Roshini Jain Ch Chiech Chang Mpho Koto Alden Geldenhuys Richard Nichol Gina Joubert Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State South African Journal of Psychiatry methylphenidate non-medical use medical students knowledge |
| title | Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State |
| title_full | Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State |
| title_fullStr | Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State |
| title_short | Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State |
| title_sort | non medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the university of the free state |
| topic | methylphenidate non-medical use medical students knowledge |
| url | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1006 |
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