No Cover Image

Journal article 368 views 45 downloads

Exploring the understanding, source of availability and level of access of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative study

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

Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, Volume: 39, Issue: 1

Swansea University Author: Amira Guirguis Orcid Logo

  • 64984.VOR.pdf

    PDF | Version of Record

    © 2023 The Authors. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

    Download (283.97KB)

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.1002/hup.2888

Abstract

Objective: The use of prescription stimulants for cognitive enhancement by healthy university students, identified as the largest cohort of cognitive enhancer (CE) users, is of growing interest. The purpose of this study was to look at the understanding, perception, experience, and level of access o...

Full description

Published in: Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental
ISSN: 0885-6222 1099-1077
Published: Wiley 2024
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64984
first_indexed 2023-11-14T10:43:07Z
last_indexed 2024-11-25T14:15:07Z
id cronfa64984
recordtype SURis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2024-09-30T15:41:47.1291768</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>64984</id><entry>2023-11-14</entry><title>Exploring the understanding, source of availability and level of access of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative study</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>b49270b9a0d580cf4f31f9a1b6c93f87</sid><ORCID>0000-0001-8255-0660</ORCID><firstname>Amira</firstname><surname>Guirguis</surname><name>Amira Guirguis</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2023-11-14</date><deptcode>MEDS</deptcode><abstract>Objective: The use of prescription stimulants for cognitive enhancement by healthy university students, identified as the largest cohort of cognitive enhancer (CE) users, is of growing interest. The purpose of this study was to look at the understanding, perception, experience, and level of access of CEs among healthy university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: The study was conducted in six highly competitive university programmes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 university students to discuss their own experiences and those of their friends and peers regarding the use of prescription stimulants. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven teaching faculty staff members (registered pharmacists and medical doctors) to explore their views on the use of CEs in their university. Results: Data were analysed thematically for the identification of themes and subthemes within the data using coding. It was found that, &#x2018;Adderall&#x2019; was the most common prescribed CE drug and caffeine super strength pills were the most common non-prescribed CE drug, both reported to enhance concentration, motivation, and meet academic deadlines. Conclusions: It is expected that the findings of this study will be of interest to a wide range of services in UAE universities. This will enable them to raise awareness about the use of CEs among students.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental</journal><volume>39</volume><journalNumber>1</journalNumber><paginationStart/><paginationEnd/><publisher>Wiley</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint>0885-6222</issnPrint><issnElectronic>1099-1077</issnElectronic><keywords>Cognitive enhancers, drug misuse, qualitative, smart drugs, UAE, university students</keywords><publishedDay>7</publishedDay><publishedMonth>1</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2024</publishedYear><publishedDate>2024-01-07</publishedDate><doi>10.1002/hup.2888</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Medical School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>MEDS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Other</apcterm><funders/><projectreference/><lastEdited>2024-09-30T15:41:47.1291768</lastEdited><Created>2023-11-14T10:36:44.3639772</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences</level><level id="2">Swansea University Medical School - Pharmacy</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Safia</firstname><surname>Sharif</surname><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Suzanne</firstname><surname>Fergus</surname><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><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Fabrizio</firstname><surname>Schifano</surname><order>5</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>64984__29250__f08f074f64474e89ae789fdfdfc9a2c4.pdf</filename><originalFilename>64984.VOR.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2023-12-12T13:32:02.3369708</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>290782</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>&#xA9; 2023 The Authors. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published by John Wiley &amp; Sons Ltd. Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2024-09-30T15:41:47.1291768 v2 64984 2023-11-14 Exploring the understanding, source of availability and level of access of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative study b49270b9a0d580cf4f31f9a1b6c93f87 0000-0001-8255-0660 Amira Guirguis Amira Guirguis true false 2023-11-14 MEDS Objective: The use of prescription stimulants for cognitive enhancement by healthy university students, identified as the largest cohort of cognitive enhancer (CE) users, is of growing interest. The purpose of this study was to look at the understanding, perception, experience, and level of access of CEs among healthy university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: The study was conducted in six highly competitive university programmes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 university students to discuss their own experiences and those of their friends and peers regarding the use of prescription stimulants. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven teaching faculty staff members (registered pharmacists and medical doctors) to explore their views on the use of CEs in their university. Results: Data were analysed thematically for the identification of themes and subthemes within the data using coding. It was found that, ‘Adderall’ was the most common prescribed CE drug and caffeine super strength pills were the most common non-prescribed CE drug, both reported to enhance concentration, motivation, and meet academic deadlines. Conclusions: It is expected that the findings of this study will be of interest to a wide range of services in UAE universities. This will enable them to raise awareness about the use of CEs among students. Journal Article Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental 39 1 Wiley 0885-6222 1099-1077 Cognitive enhancers, drug misuse, qualitative, smart drugs, UAE, university students 7 1 2024 2024-01-07 10.1002/hup.2888 COLLEGE NANME Medical School COLLEGE CODE MEDS Swansea University Other 2024-09-30T15:41:47.1291768 2023-11-14T10:36:44.3639772 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Pharmacy Safia Sharif 1 Suzanne Fergus 2 Amira Guirguis 0000-0001-8255-0660 3 Nigel Smeeton 4 Fabrizio Schifano 5 64984__29250__f08f074f64474e89ae789fdfdfc9a2c4.pdf 64984.VOR.pdf 2023-12-12T13:32:02.3369708 Output 290782 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2023 The Authors. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Exploring the understanding, source of availability and level of access of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative study
spellingShingle Exploring the understanding, source of availability and level of access of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative study
Amira Guirguis
title_short Exploring the understanding, source of availability and level of access of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative study
title_full Exploring the understanding, source of availability and level of access of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative study
title_fullStr Exploring the understanding, source of availability and level of access of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the understanding, source of availability and level of access of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative study
title_sort Exploring the understanding, source of availability and level of access of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative 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 Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental
container_volume 39
container_issue 1
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
issn 0885-6222
1099-1077
doi_str_mv 10.1002/hup.2888
publisher Wiley
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
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 - Pharmacy{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Swansea University Medical School - Pharmacy
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Objective: The use of prescription stimulants for cognitive enhancement by healthy university students, identified as the largest cohort of cognitive enhancer (CE) users, is of growing interest. The purpose of this study was to look at the understanding, perception, experience, and level of access of CEs among healthy university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: The study was conducted in six highly competitive university programmes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 university students to discuss their own experiences and those of their friends and peers regarding the use of prescription stimulants. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven teaching faculty staff members (registered pharmacists and medical doctors) to explore their views on the use of CEs in their university. Results: Data were analysed thematically for the identification of themes and subthemes within the data using coding. It was found that, ‘Adderall’ was the most common prescribed CE drug and caffeine super strength pills were the most common non-prescribed CE drug, both reported to enhance concentration, motivation, and meet academic deadlines. Conclusions: It is expected that the findings of this study will be of interest to a wide range of services in UAE universities. This will enable them to raise awareness about the use of CEs among students.
published_date 2024-01-07T14:29:07Z
_version_ 1821325496223268864
score 11.048042

Similar Items