TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study
AU - Sharif, Safia
AU - Fergus, Suzanne
AU - Guirguis, Amira
AU - Smeeton, Nigel
AU - Schifano, Fabrizio
A2 - Afrashtehfar, Kelvin Ian
N1 - © 2022 Sharif et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Submitted 30 September 2021, Accepted 1 January 2022, Published 26 January 2022.
PY - 2022/1/26
Y1 - 2022/1/26
N2 - BACKGROUND: Cognitive enhancers (CE) are often used to improve memory, alertness and cognitive capacity. These products are commercially and pharmaceutically available. Due to high academic pressure, university students are at risk of CE misuse. However, data regarding this issue are limited, especially in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).AIMS: To assess the prevalence of CE intake; evaluate students' knowledge of these substances; and identify student characteristics associated with CE usage.METHOD: A cross sectional study based on a validated online survey that was distributed using university-licensed software (Qualtrics) as a direct web link via email and social media to all Medical, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing and Engineering students enrolled in six UAE universities. Associations between student characteristics and CE use were investigated using the chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression. Reasons for CE use, temporal patterns of use, details regarding purchase and types of CE used were compared by gender.RESULTS: One quarter of students had used CEs. There was a clear difference between users and non-users in terms of gender (p<0.001). CE users were disproportionately represented by students from either UAE or other Arab countries (p<0.001), and by students of Medicine, followed by Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Engineering (p<0.001). CE use increased with year of study, reaching the highest level in the fourth year (p<0.001), which for most programmes is the final year. Modafinil was self-administered, especially in males, for concentration and alertness; B12 was typically taken by female students for academic performance and concentration; and high-dosage caffeine compounds were ingested to improve alertness levels. Use of the internet for both obtaining information and purchasing CEs was frequently reported. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that gender, nationality, and year of study were associated with CE use among UAE university students.CONCLUSIONS: Universities need to address the prevalence of CE use amongst their students by providing effective support programs.
AB - BACKGROUND: Cognitive enhancers (CE) are often used to improve memory, alertness and cognitive capacity. These products are commercially and pharmaceutically available. Due to high academic pressure, university students are at risk of CE misuse. However, data regarding this issue are limited, especially in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).AIMS: To assess the prevalence of CE intake; evaluate students' knowledge of these substances; and identify student characteristics associated with CE usage.METHOD: A cross sectional study based on a validated online survey that was distributed using university-licensed software (Qualtrics) as a direct web link via email and social media to all Medical, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing and Engineering students enrolled in six UAE universities. Associations between student characteristics and CE use were investigated using the chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression. Reasons for CE use, temporal patterns of use, details regarding purchase and types of CE used were compared by gender.RESULTS: One quarter of students had used CEs. There was a clear difference between users and non-users in terms of gender (p<0.001). CE users were disproportionately represented by students from either UAE or other Arab countries (p<0.001), and by students of Medicine, followed by Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Engineering (p<0.001). CE use increased with year of study, reaching the highest level in the fourth year (p<0.001), which for most programmes is the final year. Modafinil was self-administered, especially in males, for concentration and alertness; B12 was typically taken by female students for academic performance and concentration; and high-dosage caffeine compounds were ingested to improve alertness levels. Use of the internet for both obtaining information and purchasing CEs was frequently reported. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that gender, nationality, and year of study were associated with CE use among UAE university students.CONCLUSIONS: Universities need to address the prevalence of CE use amongst their students by providing effective support programs.
KW - Research Article
KW - Computer and information sciences
KW - People and places
KW - Medicine and health sciences
KW - Engineering and technology
KW - Physical sciences
KW - Biology and life sciences
KW - Social sciences
KW - Research and analysis methods
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123540835&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0262704
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0262704
M3 - Article
C2 - 35081158
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 17
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 1 January
M1 - e0262704
ER -