scholarly journals Use of psychoactive substances among medicine students from the Federal University of Amapá, Amazon Region, Brazil, in 2018

Author(s):  
Cláudio Alberto Gellis de Mattos Dias ◽  
Lucas Facco ◽  
Amanda Alves Fecury ◽  
Felipe Rodrigues Martins de Melo ◽  
Eduardo José Lobato de Azevedo ◽  
...  

Psychoactive substances, also called psychotropic substances, are products which have the ability to promote stimuli or sensory changes, influencing emotions and the level of consciousness of those who use them. The objective of this study was to analyze the use of psychoactive substances among medical students at the Federal University of Amapá (UNIFAP), Amazon region, Brazil, in 2018. A quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional study was used, which used a convenience sample, not probabilistic, of university students. At this university, among medical students, it was noted that the use of psychotropic drugs is mainly due to the use of alcohol and analgesics. In the medical context, due to the easier access to prescription drugs, their use is much wider in this audience of professionals and academics, and the use of such substances is sometimes hidden and there is a difficulty in talking about and seek assistance.

Author(s):  
Marayra Inês França Coury ◽  
João Gabriel Menezes Duca ◽  
Antonio Toledo Júnior

Abstract: Introduction: Recent studies have shown the direct effects of emotional intelligence (EI) on medical practice and, more specifically, on establishing and maintaining a good doctor-patient relationship. The aim was to compare the EI levels of students from different years of medical school and to evaluate other factors that affect EI levels. Method: This was a cross-sectional study of medical students attending the 1st, 3rd and 6th years in a private institution in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A non-probabilistic convenience sample was used. EI levels were evaluated using the Schutte Self-Report EI Test, and demographic and personal data were collected. All volunteers signed the free and informed consent form prior to study inclusion. Statistical analysis used ANOVA, Student’s t-test, Pearson correlation and linear regression. A significance level of 0.05 was adopted. Results: Two hundred twenty-five volunteers were recruited between October/2017 and April/2018. Sixteen (7.1%) were excluded due to incomplete questionnaires. The final sample comprised 209 participants (71 from the 1st year, 69 from the 3rd year and 69 from the 6th year). Most were women (66.0%), 95.2% were single, 10.0% had previously graduated and 16.3% reported a previous mental disorder diagnosis. The mean age was 23.2 (±3.9) years. There was no difference in the EI overall score and in the different EI domains scores among the students from the three years. Pearson’s test showed a weak positive correlation between age and total score (r=0.172; p=0.013) and perception of emotion (r=0.236; p=0.001). Multiple regression showed a significant positive association between age and the total score (p=0.040), Perception of Emotion (padjusted=0.013) and Managing Others’ Emotions (padjusted=0.020). A significant reduction in the total score (padjusted=0.033), in Managing Own Emotions (padjusted<0.001) and in the Managing Others’ Emotions (padjusted=0.025) was found for volunteers who reported a previous mental disorder. Conclusion: High levels of EI were observed in the 3 years. No association was observed between different EI scores and the course year. There was a positive correlation between age and total EI score, Perception of Emotions, Managing Own Emotions and Managing Others’ Emotions. The presence of a mental disorder was associated with a reduction in the total score and the scores for Managing Own Emotions and Managing Others’ Emotions.


Author(s):  
Wafaa Husain ◽  
Fatemah Ashkanani

Abstract Background The coronavirus pandemic has transformed and continues to transform and affect the daily lives of communities worldwide, particularly due to the lockdown restrictions. Therefore, this study was designed to understand the changes in dietary and lifestyle behaviours that are major determinants of health during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire using a convenience sample of 415 adults living in Kuwait (age range 18–73 years). Results The rate of skipping breakfast remained consistent, with a slight increase during the pandemic. Lunch remained the main reported meal before and during COVID-19. Compared to before COVID-19, people were much more likely have a late-night snack or meal during COVID-19 (OR = 3.57 (95% CI 1.79–7.26), p < 0.001). Moreover, there was a drastic decrease in the frequency of fast-food consumption during COVID-19, up to 82% reported not consuming fast food (p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the percentage of participants who had their main meal freshly made (OR = 59.18 (95% CI 6.55–1400.76), p = 0.001). Regarding food group patterns, no significant differences were found before and during the pandemic in terms of the weekly frequency of consumption, except in the case of fish and seafood. There were no remarkable changes in beverage consumption habits among participants before and during the pandemic, except for Americano coffee and fresh juice. Furthermore, there was a great reduction in physical activity and an increase in the amount of screen time and sedentary behaviours. A notable increase was detected in day-time sleep and a decrease in night-time sleep among participants. Conclusion In general, this study indicates some changes in daily life, including changes in some eating practices, physical activity and sleeping habits during the pandemic. It is important that the government considers the need for nutrition education programmes and campaigns, particularly during this critical period of the pandemic in Kuwait.


2021 ◽  
pp. 102612
Author(s):  
Sebastián Londoño-Cardona ◽  
Alejandra Meza-Vega ◽  
María Bernarda Quiroz-Martínez ◽  
Lina Silvana Arce ◽  
Ivan David Lozada-Martínez ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa R. Englund ◽  
Valisa E. Hedrick ◽  
Sofía Rincón-Gallardo Patiño ◽  
Lauren E. Kennedy ◽  
Kathryn W. Hosig ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In 2015, the Partnership for a Healthier America launched the branded Fruits & Veggies (FNV) Campaign to apply a unique industry-inspired marketing approach to promote fruit and vegetable sales and intake to moms and teens in two US pilot markets: Fresno, California and Hampton Roads, Virginia. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to: 1) assess brand awareness and fruit- and vegetable-related outcomes among FNV Campaign target audiences in the California and Virginia market locations; and 2) examine whether reported awareness of the FNV Campaign was associated with differences in fruit- and vegetable-related cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Methods Data for this cross-sectional study were collected using an online survey administered to a non-probability convenience sample (n = 1604; February–July 2017) of youth aged 14–20 years (n = 744) and moms aged 21–36 years (n = 860) in the two pilot markets. Descriptive statistics were computed and outcomes compared between unaware and aware respondents, controlling for sociodemographic covariates. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted to assess whether fruit- and vegetable-related attitude, belief, and encouragement outcomes differed by FNV Campaign awareness; logistic regression was used to examine associations between FNV brand awareness and dichotomous variables (fruit- and vegetable-related behavioral intentions, trying new fruits and vegetables); and ANCOVA was used to assess associations with daily fruit and vegetable intake frequency. Results Approximately 20% (n = 315/1604) of respondents reported awareness of the FNV Campaign. Youth that reported awareness of the FNV Campaign (n = 167, 22.4%) had higher intentions to buy (p = 0.003) and eat (p = 0.009) fruits and vegetables than unaware respondents. Mothers that reported awareness of the FNV Campaign (n = 148, 17.2%) reported greater encouragement for friends and family to eat fruits and vegetables (p = 0.013) and were approximately 1.5 times more likely to report trying a new fruit or vegetable (p = 0.04) than mothers unaware of the Campaign. Daily fruit and vegetable intake frequency did not differ by Campaign awareness. Conclusions FNV Campaign awareness was associated with limited but positive short- and intermediate-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes among target audience respondents. These findings can inform future research to enhance understanding and improve the FNV Campaign as it is expanded to new markets nationwide.


Author(s):  
Concepció Fuentes-Pumarola ◽  
Zaira Reyes-Amargant ◽  
Alba Berenguer-Simon ◽  
David Ballester-Ferrando ◽  
Maria Dolors Burjalés-Martí ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Sexual violence (SV) has become common in universities for reasons related to unwanted social/peer pressures regarding alcohol/drug use and sexual activities. Objectives: To identify perceptions of SV and alcohol use and estimate prevalence among nursing students in Catalonia, Spain. (2) Methods: Observational descriptive cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of nursing students attending public universities. (3) Results: We recruited 686 students (86.11% women), who reported as follows: 68.7% had consumed alcohol, 65.6% had been drunk at least once in the previous year, 62.65% had experienced blackouts and 25.55% had felt pressured to consume alcohol. Drunkenness and blackouts were related (p < 0.000). Of the 15.6% of respondents who had experienced SV, 47.7% experienced SV while under the influence of alcohol and were insufficiently alert to stop what was happening, while 3.06% reported rape. SV was more likely to be experienced by women (OR: 2.770; CI 95%: 1.229–6.242; p = 0.014), individuals reporting a drunk episode in the previous year (OR: 2.839; 95% CI: 1.551–5.197; p = 0.001) and individuals pressured to consume alcohol (OR: 2.091; 95% CI: 1.332–3.281; p = 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Nursing instructors need to raise student awareness of both the effects of alcohol use and SV, so as to equip these future health professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with SV among young people.


2021 ◽  
pp. 102466
Author(s):  
Naser AL-Husban ◽  
Aysha Alkhayat ◽  
Mariam Aljweesri ◽  
Reem Alharbi ◽  
Zahraa Aljazzaf ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
AA Toubasi ◽  
BR Khraisat ◽  
RB AbuAnzeh ◽  
HM Kalbouneh

Objective Medicine is considered one if not the most stressful educational field. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of stress and poor sleeping quality among medical students and the association between them. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Jordan on second- and third-year medical students. The questionnaire consisted of: 1) Demographics; 2) The assessment tools which were Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI) and Kessler Psychological Distress Status (K10). Binary logistic regression, chi-square and linear regression were used to investigate the association between PSQI, K10, and their determinants. Results The mean for PSQI score was 6.76 ± 3.32. PSQI scores interpretation revealed that 61.7% of the 282 participants of this study were poor sleepers. Logistic regression results showed that only the category of not napping at all from the napping hours variable was significantly associated with sleeping quality. Furthermore, the mean of K10 scores was 24.5 ± 8.5. K10 scores revealed that 66.3% of the participants were stressed. Logistic regression results showed that gender and regular exercise were significantly associated with psychological distress. Additionally, chi-square test, logistic regression and linear regression showed that PSQI was significantly associated with K10 (P <0.01). Conclusions Stress and poor sleeping quality in medical students at the University of Jordan were highly prevalent and strongly associated. What determined PSQI was daytime napping, and for K10 were regular exercise and gender. Further investigations into stress and sleep quality in the Arabian region are needed.


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