Knowledge gaps of medical and pharmacy students with respect to performance enhancing drugs in sport: a pilot study.
Journal
The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness
ISSN: 1827-1928
Titre abrégé: J Sports Med Phys Fitness
Pays: Italy
ID NLM: 0376337
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Feb 2023
Feb 2023
Historique:
pubmed:
8
10
2022
medline:
4
2
2023
entrez:
7
10
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Central to the work of medical and pharmacy practitioners is the provision of pharmaceutical support for patients, who may also be competitive athletes. This study aimed to assess the knowledge gaps of medical and pharmacy students at the University of Malta regarding World Anti-Doping Code and the Prohibited List. All medical and pharmacy students studying at the University of Malta were invited to participate in an online questionnaire devised by the research team. This questionnaire assessed knowledge regarding the prohibited status of 19 substances, as well as knowledge regarding therapeutic use exemptions. The questionnaire was prepiloted with local experts in the sports doping field to test face validity, and then tested for content clarity and easy of use by 20 medical and pharmacy students. Total scores were used to compare medical student vs. pharmacy student and athlete vs. non-athlete using the Mann-Whitney U Test. A total of 242 students answered the questionnaire, 58% of which were female. 86% of respondents were medical students. From of the cohort of respondents, 22% identified themselves as athletes as per definition provided in the questionnaire. A number of substances, such as diuretics, morphine, cocaine and ecstasy, were incorrectly classified by the majority of participants. Paracetamol, caffeine, vitamins, NSAIDs, and antihistamines were mostly correctly classified. Pharmacy students had better knowledge when compared to medical students (U value =2734.5, P value =0.034). Student athletes did not have more knowledge than non-athletes (U value =4810.5, P value =0.659). Medical and Pharmacy students have significant knowledge gaps when it comes to performance enhancing drugs in sport. Sports pharmacy should be included as part of the undergraduate curriculum for both medicine and pharmacy, but especially for medical students who will be future prescribers.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Central to the work of medical and pharmacy practitioners is the provision of pharmaceutical support for patients, who may also be competitive athletes. This study aimed to assess the knowledge gaps of medical and pharmacy students at the University of Malta regarding World Anti-Doping Code and the Prohibited List.
METHODS
METHODS
All medical and pharmacy students studying at the University of Malta were invited to participate in an online questionnaire devised by the research team. This questionnaire assessed knowledge regarding the prohibited status of 19 substances, as well as knowledge regarding therapeutic use exemptions. The questionnaire was prepiloted with local experts in the sports doping field to test face validity, and then tested for content clarity and easy of use by 20 medical and pharmacy students. Total scores were used to compare medical student vs. pharmacy student and athlete vs. non-athlete using the Mann-Whitney U Test.
RESULTS
RESULTS
A total of 242 students answered the questionnaire, 58% of which were female. 86% of respondents were medical students. From of the cohort of respondents, 22% identified themselves as athletes as per definition provided in the questionnaire. A number of substances, such as diuretics, morphine, cocaine and ecstasy, were incorrectly classified by the majority of participants. Paracetamol, caffeine, vitamins, NSAIDs, and antihistamines were mostly correctly classified. Pharmacy students had better knowledge when compared to medical students (U value =2734.5, P value =0.034). Student athletes did not have more knowledge than non-athletes (U value =4810.5, P value =0.659).
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Medical and Pharmacy students have significant knowledge gaps when it comes to performance enhancing drugs in sport. Sports pharmacy should be included as part of the undergraduate curriculum for both medicine and pharmacy, but especially for medical students who will be future prescribers.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36205087
pii: S0022-4707.22.14177-0
doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.22.14177-0
doi:
Substances chimiques
Performance-Enhancing Substances
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM