Publication
Use of cognitive enhancers by Portuguese medical students : do academic challenges matter?
| dc.contributor.author | Miranda, Miguel Angelo | |
| dc.contributor.author | Barbosa, Miguel | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-02-03T17:30:45Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-02-03T17:30:45Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021 | |
| dc.description | Copyright © Ordem dos Médicos 2021 | pt_PT |
| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: Nonmedical use of prescription drugs and other substances for cognitive enhancement in the academic environment has been documented in several studies. However, the prevalence among Portuguese university students is unknown. We aimed to assess the prevalence and academic contexts of the use of cognitive enhancers of a sample of Portuguese medical students. Material and Methods: An online questionnaire about the use of cognitive enhancers was completed by 1156 participants, who were either medical students (group 1) or newly qualified physicians applying for the Portuguese medical licensing exam (group 2). Results: Coffee was the most frequently used substance for cognitive enhancement purposes in both groups, whereas nonmedical use of prescription drugs for cognitive enhancement was lower in undergraduate students (5%) and higher in licensing exam applicants (14%). Methylphenidate (35%) and modafinil (10%) were the most consumed prescription substances and they were mainly used to enhance attention (83%) and memory (44%). Use of prescription drugs for cognitive enhancement was mainly associated with studying for medical school exams and the medical licensing exam. Most prescription drugs for cognitive enhancement were obtained through medical prescription (54%). Discussion: These results show a low consumption of prescription drugs for cognitive enhancement by Portuguese medical students. Licensing exam applicants show a higher consumption of almost every substance included in this study, which might be explained by the crucial role of the exam in defining their future career path and desire by students to improve the cognitive skills that determine exam success. Conclusion: Studying drugtaking behaviors in medical students and young doctors is relevant for public health and medical education, since they will soon be in charge of drugs prescription. Therefore, ethical and medical concerns raised by off label consumption of prescription drugs for cognitive enhancement purposes must be openly addressed. | pt_PT |
| dc.description.sponsorship | This study was supported by the project «EXCEL - The Pursuit of Excellence. Biotechnologies, enhancement and body capital in Portugal» which has received funding from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), under the grant agreement nº PTDC/SOC-ANT/30572/2017 | pt_PT |
| dc.description.version | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion | pt_PT |
| dc.identifier.citation | Acta Med Port. 2021 Jan 28 | pt_PT |
| dc.identifier.doi | 10.20344/amp.14220 | pt_PT |
| dc.identifier.eissn | 1646-0758 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 0870-399X | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10451/46146 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | pt_PT |
| dc.peerreviewed | yes | pt_PT |
| dc.publisher | Ordem dos Médicos | pt_PT |
| dc.relation | The Pursuit of Excellence. Biotechnologies, enhancement and body capital in Portugal | |
| dc.relation.publisherversion | https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/index | pt_PT |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ | pt_PT |
| dc.subject | Academic performance | pt_PT |
| dc.subject | Central nervous system stimulants | pt_PT |
| dc.subject | Portugal | pt_PT |
| dc.subject | Prescription drug misuse | pt_PT |
| dc.subject | Students, medical | pt_PT |
| dc.title | Use of cognitive enhancers by Portuguese medical students : do academic challenges matter? | pt_PT |
| dc.title.alternative | Estratégias de aprimoramento cognitivo em estudantes de medicina portugueses : qual a relevância dos desafios académicos? | pt_PT |
| dc.type | journal article | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| oaire.awardTitle | The Pursuit of Excellence. Biotechnologies, enhancement and body capital in Portugal | |
| oaire.awardURI | info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/3599-PPCDT/PTDC%2FSOC-ANT%2F30572%2F2017/PT | |
| oaire.citation.issue | 13 | pt_PT |
| oaire.citation.title | Acta Médica Portuguesa | pt_PT |
| oaire.citation.volume | 34 | pt_PT |
| oaire.fundingStream | 3599-PPCDT | |
| person.familyName | Miranda | |
| person.familyName | Barbosa | |
| person.givenName | Miguel Angelo | |
| person.givenName | Miguel | |
| person.identifier.orcid | 0000-0001-5285-1665 | |
| person.identifier.orcid | 0000-0002-0670-0425 | |
| project.funder.identifier | http://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871 | |
| project.funder.name | Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | |
| rcaap.rights | openAccess | pt_PT |
| rcaap.type | article | pt_PT |
| relation.isAuthorOfPublication | e9ff925e-4bc7-43ca-abca-309e03695afb | |
| relation.isAuthorOfPublication | 4c284ddc-62cb-47aa-ac74-722e89386caf | |
| relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery | e9ff925e-4bc7-43ca-abca-309e03695afb | |
| relation.isProjectOfPublication | e241a7fc-7e97-407d-8971-5e3cb97b4799 | |
| relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscovery | e241a7fc-7e97-407d-8971-5e3cb97b4799 |
Files
Original bundle
1 - 1 of 1