Knowledge and (Ab)Use in Connection with Novel Psychoactive Substances: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Iraqi Medical Students

BACKGROUND: The extent of (ab)use of the Novel Psychoactive substances has been thoroughly mapped in the developed world, particularly in the US, Canada, UK, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. However, there are still untapped geographic locations particularly in the developing world including the Middle East.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is observational in nature and cross-sectional in design; it is based on a survey that will aim is to estimate the level of knowledge and the extent of (ab)use of psychoactive substances, traditional and novel, in a population of undergraduate medical students from Iraq. There will be an implementation of inferential statistical analyses for the purpose of hypothesis testing. Ethical approvals were granted from the College of Medicine at the University of Baghdad and the University of Hertfordshire.RESULTS: There was some degree of knowledge in connection with psychoactive substances among a population of medical students. However, the extent of (ab)use is still minimal when compared to that of the developed countries. In general, the knowledge and the extent of NPS (ab)use did not vary substantially as the students progressed through the medical college.CONCLUSION: The use of observational analytic tools for assessing the diffusion of the phenomenon of psychoactive and novel psychoactive substances is indispensable. The extent of knowledge and (ab)use of NPS in the Middle East may still be considered minute or insignificant. Further analyses are required in the Middle East; different populations are to be targeted including; students, academics, researchers, medical and paramedical staff, psychiatric patients, prisoners, military and para-military organisations, and even terrorists.

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Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State

South African Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v23i1.1006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Roshini Jain ◽

Ch Chiech Chang ◽

Mpho Koto ◽

Alden Geldenhuys ◽

Richard Nichol ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical Curriculum ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Free State ◽

Specific Information ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Questionnaire Response ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Training Programmes ◽

The University

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.

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Stigma Levels Toward Psychiatric Patients Among Medical Students—A Worldwide Online Survey Across 65 Countries

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.798909 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Mateusz Babicki ◽

Monika Małecka ◽

Krzysztof Kowalski ◽

Bogna Bogudzińska ◽

Patryk Piotrowski

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Online Survey ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Gdp Per Capita ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Everyday Functioning ◽

Per Capita

Background: According to epidemiological data, over 450 million people worldwide suffer from mental disorders, presenting one of the major challenges of modern medicine. In their everyday lives, patients, in addition to fighting the disease itself, often struggle with stigmatization. This phenomenon negatively affects both the diagnostic and therapeutic processes, as well as the patients' everyday functioning. This study aimed to assess stigma attitudes toward psychiatry and psychiatric patients among undergraduate medical students.Methods: This study used a Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI), which included the standardized items from the Mental Illness: Clinicians' Attitudes (MICA-2) scale to evaluate stigma. The study was disseminated via the internet to students from medical universities from 65 countries worldwide. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. The study involved 1,216 students from these 65 countries. Most of the sample were women, and most were medical faculty students and students living in cities with more than 500,000 residents. Taking into consideration Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and Human Development Index (HDI) variables, it can be seen that there was a prevalence of medical students from highly developed countries.Results: For the whole sample, the mean MICA-2 score was 40.5 points. Women and medical and nursing students showed more positive attitudes toward psychiatric patients. Students from countries with the highest economic development levels also achieved statistically lower MICA-2 scores. Lower score means a more positive attitude.Conclusion: Stigma toward both psychiatry and psychiatric patients is common among undergraduate medical students. Female students and respondents with a history of mental disorders in countries with high HDI and GDP per capita indices show more favorable attitudes than other medical students. There is a need to further our understanding of the problem of stigmatization, both among the general population and among medical personnel, and to implement and maintain appropriate measures to reduce stigma toward psychiatry.

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Prevalence of maladaptive daydreaming among medical students at the University of Khartoum, Sudan, in 2020–2021

Middle East Current Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s43045-021-00122-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Moez Mohammed Ibrahim Bashir

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Scale Score ◽

Intervention Strategy ◽

Holistic Approach ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

And Gender ◽

The Individual ◽

The University ◽

Maladaptive Daydreaming

Abstract Background Daydreaming is a normal cognitive phenomenon in which the individual experiences a temporary separation from reality during which contact with reality is compromised and, to some extent, replaced by a visionary fantasy. On the other hand, daydreaming can progress to a maladaptive state, known as maladaptive daydreaming. The aim of this study was to help understand the full scope of maladaptive daydreaming among medical students at the University of Khartoum, in Sudan, by displaying all maladaptive daydreaming-related statistics among studied population. An analytical cross-sectional university-based study was conducted during the academic year 2020–2021, using a total of 323 self-administered online questionnaires; the questionnaire containing the Arabic Version of Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale and other sociodemographic data were given by stratified random selection to undergraduate medical students at the University of Khartoum, in Sudan, between December and January 2021. Results 34.3% of medical students at the University of Khartoum have identified themselves as maladaptive daydreamers. More males were found to be maladaptive daydreamers when compared to female medical students. The average Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale score among medical students was found to be 33.6 (sd=22.3). No significant correlation was found between Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale score and gender, and there was a significant correlation between the MDS score and the academic class of medical students at University of Khartoum. Conclusions Maladaptive daydreaming was discovered to have a significant impact on the population of medical students at the University of Khartoum, with some alarming rates and correlations among medical students; having more than one-third of total medical students found to be having MD must surely indicate a much larger and more widespread problem. A multifactorial holistic approach covering biological, psychological, social, and academic aspects must be used when hypothesizing the justification for these findings and planning an active intervention strategy.

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Visible Facebook profiles and e-professionalism in undergraduate medical students in India

Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions ◽

10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.50 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 50 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Setu Gupta ◽

Satendra Singh ◽

Upreet Dhaliwal

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Excessive Alcohol Consumption ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Unprofessional Behaviour ◽

Sexually Explicit ◽

The University ◽

Diverse Groups

Purpose: This study aimed to assess medical students’ presence on Facebook and the extent of their visible activity, with particular reference to online professionalism. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including all medical students enrolled in the University College of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, India during the period of the study, which was conducted from 2011 to 2012. After approval by the Institutional Ethical Committee, the full names of all students were obtained from our institution. After creating a fictitious profile, Facebook was searched for students’ profiles, and those found were examined for visible content and unprofessional behaviour. Results: Of 611 students, 477 (78.1%) had detectable Facebook profiles. Out of 477 profiles, date of birth, address, email, phone number, religion, and political views were rarely shared; sexual orientation and relationship status were displayed on approximately one third of the profiles; and an identifiable profile picture (80.3%), field of study (51.6%), and institution (86.2%) were commonly shared . The visible content included friend lists (88.7%), photo albums (36.1%), and associations with diverse groups and pages (97.1%). Five profiles (1.05%) displayed unprofessional content, including one profile photograph depicting alcohol consumption, one association with groups relating to excessive alcohol consumption, two profiles containing sexually explicit language, and one association with a sexist page. Conclusion: Most of our students use Facebook’s privacy settings to hide some content from others. Unprofessional content was rarely visible from a stranger’s profile. However, even when hidden from strangers, unprofessional behaviour is still unprofessional behaviour. As Facebook is an integral part of life, it is important for medical educators and students to understand the implications and importance of e-professionalism. Professionalism curricula should address e-professionalism.

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Generalized anxiety disorder and prevalence of suicide risk among medical students

Revista Brasileira de Educação Médica ◽

10.1590/1981-5271v45.2-20200043.ing ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Sérgio Cunha Trindade Júnior ◽

Luis Fernando Freitas de Sousa ◽

Luciana Brandão Carreira

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Medical Students ◽

High Risk ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

University Admission ◽

The University

Abstract: Introduction: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common pathology in modern life. Furthermore, Brazil ranks among one of the countries in Latin America with the highest increase in the number of suicides. Objective: The goal of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of GAD and suicide risk and their association in medical students from Belém - PA. Methods: The observational, cross-sectional and quantitative study included undergraduate medical students attending the 1st, 3rd and 5th years of Universidade do Estado do Pará as subjects of this research, totaling 153 students. It used a protocol created by the authors and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The software BioEstat® 5.3 was used to perform the statistical analysis. Results: 52 (32,7%) of the 159 students have GAD and 48 (30,2%) pose a suicide risk, of which 18 have a mild risk (11,3%), 17 a moderate risk (10,7%) and 13 a high risk (8,2%). 46,7% and 50% of the 1st and 3rd-year students, respectively, have higher risk of suicide, which could be related to the competition faced during the University admission process and also during the first years of the clinical cycle. Of the 5th year students who pose a suicide risk, only 21,7% have high risk. Conclusion: It can be observed that GAD and suicide risk show high prevalence among medical students, which has to be investigated and treated aiming to reduce the impacts of those disorders on health professionals and students.

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Undergraduate medical students’ interest in specialising in Family Medicine at the University of the Free State, 2014

South African Family Practice ◽

10.4102/safp.v59i5.4768 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 37

Author(s):

D T Hagemeister ◽

A Pal ◽

U Kristen ◽

N Mokgosana ◽

G Joubert

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Family Medicine ◽

Response Rate ◽

Medical Curriculum ◽

Poor Response ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Free State ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The University

Background: There is a large demand for Family Medicine specialists, yet not enough medical students specialise in this field. This study investigated the interest of undergraduate medical students at the University of the Free State in pursuing a career in Family Medicine, factors associated with this interest, and their opinion of Family Medicine as a specialty. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, anonymous, self-reporting questionnaires, available in English and Afrikaans, were distributed to first- to fifth-year undergraduates. Data were collected on demographic variables and interest in Family Medicine and other disciplines. The students had to rate the likelihood of them selecting 15 different specialties as a future career according to a five-point Likert scale. Opinions concerning Family Medicine were tested with a yes/no response as to the agreement to five statements. Results: Fifth-year students were excluded due to poor response rate (13.6%). The response rate for the first- to fourth-year groups was 86.4%. Interest in Family Medicine decreased from first to third year (22.4, 21.2 and 14.0%, respectively), but increased again in the fourth year (23.3%). Females and speakers of African languages showed the most interest in this field. Medical students, especially first years, generally had poor knowledge regarding Family Medicine. Conclusion: Family Medicine is not a preferred specialty in any of the four year groups, and students had insufficient knowledge of the field. Family Medicine should be introduced earlier into the medical curriculum. (Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp) S Afr Fam Pract 2017; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2017.1317977

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Novel Psychoactive Substances: Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Analysis of Literature

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v9n11p1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Ahmed Al-Imam ◽

Ban A. AbdulMajeed

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Critical Analysis ◽

Research Output ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Research Quality ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽

Psychoactive Substances ◽

Publication Type ◽

Level Of Evidence

BACKGROUND: The research output within the discipline of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) has been evolving since the end of the last decade. The introduction of the concept of evidence-based Medicine led to a revolutionary growth of all fields of medical research. The enhancements of research quality were also paralleled by the development of tools for critical analysis of literature.MATERIALS & METHODS: The aim of the study is to assess the NPS research output, by means of evaluation of the level-of-evidence and the implemented statistical analyses. An extensive database of near 600 published manuscript was created; the papers were selected from the PubMed/Medline database by using pre-specified keywords. Each manuscript will be systematically scanned for; the first author, research institution, country, year of publication, type of study, statistical analysis, level-of-evidence, and journals of publication. Research efforts from the Middle East were also observed and quantified.RESULTS: Teams of NPS researchers included members in the range of one to twenty-nine, with and an average of 4.75 authors per publication. Research output was densely mapped in the developed countries including the UK (53%), US (19%), Italy (14%), Germany (14%), and Sweden (10%); the Middle East contribution was minimal (<1%). The top two research institutes were; King’s College London (UK) and Sapienza University of Rome (Italy). Studies included; Cross-sectional analyses (15%), Reviews (18%), and Analytic chemistry (36%). A considerable number of publications (34%) had no statistics at all, while only 14% had inferential statistics. Top journals of publication were; Journal of Psychopharmacology, Current Neuropharmacology, and Drug and Alcohol Dependence.CONCLUSION: Research output should always be assessed for quality control purposes. This study represents an innovative and systematic method of critical analysis of NPS literature. Future study efforts should be respondent to this study to achieve a better quality of research.

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Do (Ab)Users of Psychedelics Have Tendencies to Abuse High Authority? An Internet Snapshot Study

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v9n11p148 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 148

Author(s):

Ahmed Al-Imam ◽

Ban A. AbdulMajeed

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Social Communication ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Medical Professionals ◽

Demographic Parameters ◽

Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽

Psychoactive Substances ◽

Different Populations ◽

Developed World

BACKGROUND: Hallucinogenic substances, also known as psychedelics and entheogens, represent a subset of novel psychoactive substances. The epidemiology of (ab)use and electronic commerce of Psychedelics has been well-mapped in the developed world. However, countries from the developing world are yet to be explored. Principles of psychology including thematic psychoanalysis were not implemented before in connection with psychedelics.MATERIALS & METHODS: This study is based on an internet snapshot technique; it will explore and analyse the comments of psychedelics’ (ab)users in relation to the possibility of abuse of some granted power (authority); several demographic parameters of (ab)users will be explored. The snapshot will implement thematic analysis and psychoanalysis of comments found on drug fora and social communication media.RESULTS: The highest contribution of psychedelic users existed in the developed world, while the developing countries including the Middle East contributed the least. More than half (57%) of Psychedelic (ab)users tend to misuse power, which may indicate an existing psychopathology.CONCLUSION: Psychedelic users tend to mishandle the use of authority. The prevalence of psychedelic (ab)users in the Middle East is considered to be minimal. Additional analyses are required and in different populations of students, academics, medical professionals, psychiatric patients, prisoners, terrorists, and military organisations.

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Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State

South African Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v23i0.1006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Roshini Jain ◽

Ch Chiech Chang ◽

Mpho Koto ◽

Alden Geldenhuys ◽

Richard Nichol ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical Curriculum ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

First Year ◽

Specific Information ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Questionnaire Response ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Training Programmes ◽

The University

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.

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Green Care as Alternative Therapy: The Situation in Ghana

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2021/8812379 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Evans Paul Kwame Ameade ◽

Linda Ama Owusuaa Amoah ◽

Benjamin Yeboah Ofori

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical Training ◽

Healing Process ◽

Alternative Therapy ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Animal Assisted Therapy ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Knowledge And Skills ◽

The University

Green care, an alternative healthcare system that involves the use of nature, is proven to be useful in the management of organic and psychological disorders worldwide. There are various forms of Green care including Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), a type where animals play pivotal roles in the healing process and is widely used in many developed countries. We assessed the level of awareness and attitude towards Green care among medical students of Ghana. Using a cross-sectional study design and a semistructured questionnaire designed on Google Forms, data were collected from randomly selected 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-year medical students of the University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. The data submitted by 206 of the students were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, Version 25, and the results were presented as frequencies, percentages, and charts. The association between sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and awareness about Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) was considered significant at p < 0.05 . The study found that only 7 (3.4%) of the medical students had ever heard of Green care while a higher number of 36 (17.5%) were aware of AAT mostly through movies and television. However, the majority, 122 (59.3%), had a positive attitude towards the introduction of AAT, into their medical training curriculum. Up to 146 (70.9%) of the respondents suggested lectures and practical sessions as their preferred way of acquiring knowledge and skills on AAT. Only the sex of the respondents was significantly associated with awareness of AAT, with females having a better awareness of AAT (28.6% vs. 11.0%, p = 0.003 ). We conclude that awareness of Green care practices among medical students in Ghana was highly inadequate, but the desire of the majority of them to acquire knowledge and skills in this proven alternative therapy makes its future use in Ghana promising.

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