The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid use amongst athletes in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use among athletes and examine the extent of their knowledge on the effects of AAS in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at gyms in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, durin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Electronic Physician
2016-12-01
|
| Series: | Electronic Physician |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5279964/ |
| _version_ | 1819070792724381696 |
|---|---|
| author | Mosleh Jabari Hassan Al-shehri Abdullah Al-faris Mohammed Al-sayed Fahd Algaeed Nasser Al-sobaie Fawaz Al-saleh |
| author_facet | Mosleh Jabari Hassan Al-shehri Abdullah Al-faris Mohammed Al-sayed Fahd Algaeed Nasser Al-sobaie Fawaz Al-saleh |
| author_sort | Mosleh Jabari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use
among athletes and examine the extent of their knowledge on the effects of AAS in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at gyms in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during 2015. In total 600
athletes from three gyms participated in the study. The study included Saudi and non-Saudi athletes chosen by the
simple random sampling method. A self-reported questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire
was designed to study the prevalence and assess the knowledge of athletes regarding AAS use. Frequency and
percentage distributions were used to describe the data. Comparison between the subgroups was made with a chi- square test.
Results: The percentage of AAS users was 30.5%. The age of AAS users ranged from 15 to 49 years with the
majority (52.5%) belonging to age group of 25-29 years. Approximately 20% of the users admitted using AAS
due to body dysmorphia as their best motivational factor; in addition, they also believed that there are no side
effects of the use. Among the nonusers, 40% had appropriate knowledge, while all the AAS-users had inadequate
knowledge about the adverse effects of AAS. Moreover, 77% of the users would recommend AAS to their friends
but none from the nonusers. A significant difference in age distribution (df = 5, p<0.001) and knowledge (df = 4,
p< 0.001) between users and nonusers was observed.
Conclusion: Most athletes were ignorant of the harmful side effects of the drug but still continued to use and
promote it to other athletes. These athletes should intensify their knowledge and awareness regarding the use of
AAS and its effects on the body. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:11:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb5fb2cf1bfd4944a9d87d75875409f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2008-5842 2008-5842 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:11:34Z |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | Electronic Physician |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Electronic Physician |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb5fb2cf1bfd4944a9d87d75875409f92022-12-21T18:56:24ZengElectronic PhysicianElectronic Physician2008-58422008-58422016-12-018123343334710.19082/3343The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid use amongst athletes in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)Mosleh JabariHassan Al-shehriAbdullah Al-farisMohammed Al-sayedFahd AlgaeedNasser Al-sobaieFawaz Al-salehObjective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use among athletes and examine the extent of their knowledge on the effects of AAS in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at gyms in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during 2015. In total 600 athletes from three gyms participated in the study. The study included Saudi and non-Saudi athletes chosen by the simple random sampling method. A self-reported questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was designed to study the prevalence and assess the knowledge of athletes regarding AAS use. Frequency and percentage distributions were used to describe the data. Comparison between the subgroups was made with a chi- square test. Results: The percentage of AAS users was 30.5%. The age of AAS users ranged from 15 to 49 years with the majority (52.5%) belonging to age group of 25-29 years. Approximately 20% of the users admitted using AAS due to body dysmorphia as their best motivational factor; in addition, they also believed that there are no side effects of the use. Among the nonusers, 40% had appropriate knowledge, while all the AAS-users had inadequate knowledge about the adverse effects of AAS. Moreover, 77% of the users would recommend AAS to their friends but none from the nonusers. A significant difference in age distribution (df = 5, p<0.001) and knowledge (df = 4, p< 0.001) between users and nonusers was observed. Conclusion: Most athletes were ignorant of the harmful side effects of the drug but still continued to use and promote it to other athletes. These athletes should intensify their knowledge and awareness regarding the use of AAS and its effects on the body.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5279964/Anabolic androgenic steroidBody dysmorphiaAthletes |
| spellingShingle | Mosleh Jabari Hassan Al-shehri Abdullah Al-faris Mohammed Al-sayed Fahd Algaeed Nasser Al-sobaie Fawaz Al-saleh The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid use amongst athletes in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) Electronic Physician Anabolic androgenic steroid Body dysmorphia Athletes |
| title | The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid use amongst athletes in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) |
| title_full | The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid use amongst athletes in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) |
| title_fullStr | The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid use amongst athletes in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid use amongst athletes in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) |
| title_short | The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid use amongst athletes in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) |
| title_sort | prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid use amongst athletes in riyadh saudi arabia |
| topic | Anabolic androgenic steroid Body dysmorphia Athletes |
| url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5279964/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT moslehjabari theprevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT hassanalshehri theprevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT abdullahalfaris theprevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT mohammedalsayed theprevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT fahdalgaeed theprevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT nasseralsobaie theprevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT fawazalsaleh theprevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT moslehjabari prevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT hassanalshehri prevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT abdullahalfaris prevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT mohammedalsayed prevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT fahdalgaeed prevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT nasseralsobaie prevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia AT fawazalsaleh prevalenceofanabolicandrogenicsteroiduseamongstathletesinriyadhsaudiarabia |