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Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study

Safia Sharif Orcid Logo, Suzanne Fergus Orcid Logo, Amira Guirguis Orcid Logo, Nigel Smeeton Orcid Logo, Fabrizio Schifano

PLOS ONE, Volume: 17, Issue: 1, Start page: e0262704

Swansea University Author: Amira Guirguis Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1371/journal.pone.0262704

Abstract

BackgroundCognitive 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, especial...

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ISSN: 1932-6203
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022
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However, data regarding this issue are limited, especially in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).AimsTo assess the prevalence of CE intake; evaluate students&#x2019; knowledge of these substances; and identify student characteristics associated with CE usage.MethodA 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.ResultsOne quarter of students had used CEs. There was a clear difference between users and non-users in terms of gender (p&lt;0.001). CE users were disproportionately represented by students from either UAE or other Arab countries (p&lt;0.001), and by students of Medicine, followed by Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Engineering (p&lt;0.001). CE use increased with year of study, reaching the highest level in the fourth year (p&lt;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.ConclusionsUniversities need to address the prevalence of CE use amongst their students by providing effective support programs.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>PLOS ONE</journal><volume>17</volume><journalNumber>1</journalNumber><paginationStart>e0262704</paginationStart><paginationEnd/><publisher>Public Library of Science (PLoS)</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic>1932-6203</issnElectronic><keywords/><publishedDay>26</publishedDay><publishedMonth>1</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2022</publishedYear><publishedDate>2022-01-26</publishedDate><doi>10.1371/journal.pone.0262704</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Pharmacy</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>PHAR</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm/><lastEdited>2022-02-01T16:26:14.7883959</lastEdited><Created>2022-01-29T13:43:03.0269086</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences</level><level id="2">Swansea University Medical School - Medicine</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Safia</firstname><surname>Sharif</surname><orcid>0000-0001-7658-9251</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Suzanne</firstname><surname>Fergus</surname><orcid>0000-0002-7134-0665</orcid><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Amira</firstname><surname>Guirguis</surname><orcid>0000-0001-8255-0660</orcid><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Nigel</firstname><surname>Smeeton</surname><orcid>0000-0001-9460-5411</orcid><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Fabrizio</firstname><surname>Schifano</surname><order>5</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>59265__22280__c56e7520ea0e47aea43609dce275dfde.pdf</filename><originalFilename>59265.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2022-02-01T16:23:31.0364706</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>538181</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>&#xA9; 2022 Sharif et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2022-02-01T16:26:14.7883959 v2 59265 2022-01-29 Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study b49270b9a0d580cf4f31f9a1b6c93f87 0000-0001-8255-0660 Amira Guirguis Amira Guirguis true false 2022-01-29 PHAR BackgroundCognitive 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).AimsTo assess the prevalence of CE intake; evaluate students’ knowledge of these substances; and identify student characteristics associated with CE usage.MethodA 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.ResultsOne 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.ConclusionsUniversities need to address the prevalence of CE use amongst their students by providing effective support programs. Journal Article PLOS ONE 17 1 e0262704 Public Library of Science (PLoS) 1932-6203 26 1 2022 2022-01-26 10.1371/journal.pone.0262704 COLLEGE NANME Pharmacy COLLEGE CODE PHAR Swansea University 2022-02-01T16:26:14.7883959 2022-01-29T13:43:03.0269086 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Medicine Safia Sharif 0000-0001-7658-9251 1 Suzanne Fergus 0000-0002-7134-0665 2 Amira Guirguis 0000-0001-8255-0660 3 Nigel Smeeton 0000-0001-9460-5411 4 Fabrizio Schifano 5 59265__22280__c56e7520ea0e47aea43609dce275dfde.pdf 59265.pdf 2022-02-01T16:23:31.0364706 Output 538181 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2022 Sharif et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study
spellingShingle Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study
Amira Guirguis
title_short Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study
title_full Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study
title_fullStr Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study
title_full_unstemmed Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study
title_sort Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study
author_id_str_mv b49270b9a0d580cf4f31f9a1b6c93f87
author_id_fullname_str_mv b49270b9a0d580cf4f31f9a1b6c93f87_***_Amira Guirguis
author Amira Guirguis
author2 Safia Sharif
Suzanne Fergus
Amira Guirguis
Nigel Smeeton
Fabrizio Schifano
format Journal article
container_title PLOS ONE
container_volume 17
container_issue 1
container_start_page e0262704
publishDate 2022
institution Swansea University
issn 1932-6203
doi_str_mv 10.1371/journal.pone.0262704
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str Swansea University Medical School - Medicine{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Swansea University Medical School - Medicine
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description BackgroundCognitive 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).AimsTo assess the prevalence of CE intake; evaluate students’ knowledge of these substances; and identify student characteristics associated with CE usage.MethodA 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.ResultsOne 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.ConclusionsUniversities need to address the prevalence of CE use amongst their students by providing effective support programs.
published_date 2022-01-26T04:16:26Z
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