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Mijatović Jovin V, Skoko N, Tomas A, Živanović D, Sazdanić D, Gvozdenović N, Vejnović AM. New Psychoactive Substances: Awareness and Attitudes of Future Health Care Professionals in Serbia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14877. [PMID: 36429596 PMCID: PMC9691219 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study was conducted in order to evaluate prospective health care professionals' (HCPs) awareness and attitudes regarding new psychoactive substances (NPSs) in the context of their future role in the prevention and treatment of NPS overdose and addiction. Correlates of NPS perception and use were also examined. This cross-sectional survey was performed on 490 students of the Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia, during 2017. NPS awareness was better in pharmacy students (IRR: 1.926, CI: 1.173-3.163, p = 0.010) than in medicine students-pharmacy students recognized 92.6% more NPS names than their peers studying medicine. Female students knew 36.5% less NPS names than their male colleagues (IRR: 0.635, CI: 0.399-1.013, p = 0.049). Number of NPS names students knew was rising by 15.9% with each age group-the higher the age, the larger the number of NPSs they were aware of (IRR: 1.159, CI: 1.025-1.310, p = 0.018). Students who had used marijuana knew 52.6% more NPS names than those who had never had experience with cannabis (IRR: 1.526, CI: 0.953-2.445, p = 0.049). Although a high number of future HCPs claimed to know what NPSs are, numerous misconceptions were noticed. Further educational efforts are necessary to improve their awareness and attitudes regarding NPSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesna Mijatović Jovin
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Nina Skoko
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Ana Tomas
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dejan Živanović
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Vocational Studies for the Education of Preschool Teachers and Sports Trainers, 24000 Subotica, Serbia
- Department of Psychology, College of Social Work, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Darija Sazdanić
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Nemanja Gvozdenović
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinical for Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Ana-Marija Vejnović
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
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AbuAlSamen MM, El-Elimat T, A. Almomani B, A. Al-Sawalha N. Knowledge and perceptions of synthetic cannabinoids among university students in Jordan. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253632. [PMID: 34166423 PMCID: PMC8224919 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of blends of synthetic cannabinoids (SC) is an alarming public health concern in Jordan and worldwide. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceptions of university students of SC. A cross-sectional study employing a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 1,789 university students in Jordan. The questionnaire measured the knowledge and perceptions of students of SC. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to investigate the potential predictors of good knowledge of SC. Perceptions of students regarding SC use, prevalence and availability were investigated using principal component analysis. Self-reported familiarity with SC was high (92.5%), while good knowledge was only demonstrated by (33.6%) of students. Predictors of good knowledge included being a smoker (aOR = 1.369, 95% Cl = 11.041–1.871, p = .026), an alcohol user (aOR = 2.134, 95% CI = 1.362–3.346, p = .001), being informed by traditional media (aOR = 1.367, 95% CI = 11.113–1.679, p = .003), social media (aOR = 1.241, 95% CI = 1.161–1.403, p = .021) and self-familiarity with SC (aOR = 2.499, 95% CI = 1.518–4.114, p < .0001). Students perceived SC use to be prevalent and ethically unacceptable, for religious, social, and legal reasons. There were significant differences in the ethical perceptions against the use of SC detected by gender (p < .0001), smoking (p < .0001) or alcohol use (p = .001), and being informed by both traditional media (p-.001) and social media (p = .001), but there were no differences by the level of knowledge (p = .057). Those of good knowledge and those of low knowledge did not differ on their ethical perceptions of using SC. This study showed that there was a low level of knowledge regarding SC among university students in Jordan, which may play a role in the use of SC in the country. Herein, many opportunities exist for public health education to raise awareness against SC use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tamam El-Elimat
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
- * E-mail:
| | - Basima A. Almomani
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Nour A. Al-Sawalha
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
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Brinkman DJ, Tichelaar J, Graaf S, Otten RHJ, Richir MC, van Agtmael MA. Do final-year medical students have sufficient prescribing competencies? A systematic literature review. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2018; 84:615-635. [PMID: 29315721 PMCID: PMC5867102 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 11/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims Prescribing errors are an important cause of patient safety incidents and are frequently caused by junior doctors. This might be because the prescribing competence of final‐year medical students is poor as a result of inadequate clinical pharmacology and therapeutic (CPT) education. We reviewed the literature to investigate which prescribing competencies medical students should have acquired in order to prescribe safely and effectively, and whether these have been attained by the time they graduate. Methods PubMed, EMBASE and ERIC databases were searched from the earliest dates up to and including January 2017, using the terms ‘prescribing’, ‘competence’ and ‘medical students’ in combination. Articles describing or evaluating essential prescribing competencies of final‐year medical students were included. Results Twenty‐five articles describing, and 47 articles evaluating, the prescribing competencies of final‐year students were included. Although there seems to be some agreement, we found no clear consensus among CPT teachers on which prescribing competencies medical students should have when they graduate. Studies showed that students had a general lack of preparedness, self‐confidence, knowledge and skills, specifically regarding general and antimicrobial prescribing and pharmacovigilance. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, given the heterogeneity and methodological weaknesses of the included studies. Conclusions There is considerable evidence that final‐year students have insufficient competencies to prescribe safely and effectively, although there is a need for a greater consensus among CPT teachers on the required competencies. Changes in undergraduate CPT education are urgently required in order to improve the prescribing of future doctors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Brinkman
- Department of Internal Medicine, section Pharmacotherapy, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Research and Expertise Center in Pharmacotherapy Education (RECIPE), De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle Tichelaar
- Department of Internal Medicine, section Pharmacotherapy, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Research and Expertise Center in Pharmacotherapy Education (RECIPE), De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Graaf
- Department of Internal Medicine, section Pharmacotherapy, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - René H J Otten
- Medical Library, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Milan C Richir
- Department of Internal Medicine, section Pharmacotherapy, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Research and Expertise Center in Pharmacotherapy Education (RECIPE), De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel A van Agtmael
- Department of Internal Medicine, section Pharmacotherapy, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Research and Expertise Center in Pharmacotherapy Education (RECIPE), De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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