The use of cognitive enhancers among medical students

Abstract

Background: Pharmaceutical cognitive enhancer misuse among college students is known as an unknown phenomenon in many countries. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of cognitive enhancers and its effective factors in students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed by analyzing a total sample of 579 students in the one of University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, Iran. It was told to students that fill the paper questionnaire, nameless, consist of 13 questions about drug usage's prevalence to improve cognitive function and about the reasons and correlates in the course. Results: There was a significant relationship between cognitive enhancer use and the age of respondents (P < 0.05). According to logistic regression analysis, there was significant relationship between knowing someone who had used, stress level and CE use (P < 0.05). Also, a significant difference was found between genders in terms of the motivation to use; so that female were trying to increase concentration. Conclusions: Most of the medical students in this study used cognitive enhancers to improve their concentration for all quiz and assistant exams. Thus they are at risk of being addicted to these drugs.