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Hacking the brain : O uso de substâncias como enhancers cognitivos em estudantes de medicina portugueses
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Introdução: Um número crescente de pessoas saudáveis, nos quais se incluem estudantes de Medicina, recorrem a substâncias procurando melhorar o seu desempenho académico. Este estudo teve como objetivo: avaliar a prevalência do uso enhancers nos estudantes de Medicina portugueses; identificar as funções cognitivas objeto de melhoramento e meios utilizados; identificar os modos de obtenção, aferir o seu conhecimento e perceção de risco perante estas substâncias; identificar motivações e contextos em que recorrem ao seu uso.
Método: Participaram 168 estudantes matriculados em cursos de Medicina em Portugal, inscritos do 1º ao 6.º ano e finalistas de 2020/2021, cujas idades variavam entre os 18 e 35 anos, com uma média de 22,63 ± 2,65 anos, a maioria (73.8%) do sexo feminino. Os participantes preencheram um questionário onde era avaliado o seu padrão de consumo de substâncias como enhancers. A recolha de dados decorreu entre 19 de Fevereiro e 19 de Abril de 2022.
Resultados: 4.2% dos estudantes já consumiram medicamentos sujeitos a receita médica utilizados como enhancers; 47% reportou já ter consumido algum tipo de substância durante o seu percurso académico, procurando principalmente aumentar a concentração, tempo de vigília e memória sobretudo através do consumo de café, chá e suplementos vitamínicos. Entre os consumidores, a maioria teve conhecimento acerca do seu uso através de amigos/colegas. Os estudantes que afirmavam já ter consumido enhancers apresentaram médias no último semestre inferiores aos estudantes que negaram o consumo.
Conclusão: O consumo de enhancers é uma realidade entre os estudantes de Medicina em Portugal. A sua utilização indevida acarreta riscos nefastos para o bem-estar dos estudantes pelo que deve haver precaução na sua disponibilização e deve ser transmitida informação adequada aos estudantes. Futuros estudos devem abordar com maior detalhe o uso de enhancers, outras substâncias não apuradas neste estudo, outros contextos e novas motivações.
Introduction: A growing number of healthy people, including medical students, have been using substances to improve their academic performance. This study aimed to: assess the prevalence of substance use enhancers among Portuguese medical students; identify cognitive functions that are being improved and the means used to do so; identify the ways in which these substances are obtained, assess their knowledge and perception of risk towards these substances; identify motivations and contexts in which they turn to their use. Method: A total of 168 medical students enrolled in Portugal, from 1st to 6th year and finalists in 2020/2021, whose ages ranged between 18 and 35 years, with a mean of 22.63 ± 2.65 years, most of whom (73.8%) were female, participated. Participants completed a questionnaire where their pattern of substance use as enhancers was assessed. Data collection took place between 19th February and 19th April 2022. Results: 4.2% of students have already consumed prescription drugs used as enhancers; 47% reported having already consumed some type of substance during their academic career, mainly seeking to increase concentration, wakefulness and memory mainly through the consumption of coffee, tea and vitamin supplements. Among the users, most of them had learned about their use through friends/colleagues. Students who claimed to have already consumed enhancers showed lower mean scores in the last semester than students who denied consumption. Conclusion: The use of enhancers is a reality among medical students in Portugal. The inappropriate use of enhancers carries harmful risks for the well-being of students. Thus, caution should be taken when using them and adequate information should be provided to students. Future studies should address in more detail the use of enhancers, other substances, other contexts, and new motivations.
Introduction: A growing number of healthy people, including medical students, have been using substances to improve their academic performance. This study aimed to: assess the prevalence of substance use enhancers among Portuguese medical students; identify cognitive functions that are being improved and the means used to do so; identify the ways in which these substances are obtained, assess their knowledge and perception of risk towards these substances; identify motivations and contexts in which they turn to their use. Method: A total of 168 medical students enrolled in Portugal, from 1st to 6th year and finalists in 2020/2021, whose ages ranged between 18 and 35 years, with a mean of 22.63 ± 2.65 years, most of whom (73.8%) were female, participated. Participants completed a questionnaire where their pattern of substance use as enhancers was assessed. Data collection took place between 19th February and 19th April 2022. Results: 4.2% of students have already consumed prescription drugs used as enhancers; 47% reported having already consumed some type of substance during their academic career, mainly seeking to increase concentration, wakefulness and memory mainly through the consumption of coffee, tea and vitamin supplements. Among the users, most of them had learned about their use through friends/colleagues. Students who claimed to have already consumed enhancers showed lower mean scores in the last semester than students who denied consumption. Conclusion: The use of enhancers is a reality among medical students in Portugal. The inappropriate use of enhancers carries harmful risks for the well-being of students. Thus, caution should be taken when using them and adequate information should be provided to students. Future studies should address in more detail the use of enhancers, other substances, other contexts, and new motivations.
Descrição
Trabalho Final do Curso de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2022
Palavras-chave
Enhancement cognitivo Estudantes de Medicina Desempenho académico Abuso de substâncias Portugal