Analysis of knowledge and attitudes of the students of health and professional studies regarding the use of stimulative substances in sports

Abstract

Background/Aim. Since the beginning of competitive sports, athletes have been trying to improve their abilities by taking various substances. The problem of using prohibited substances is not strictly tied to elite athletes; it is also present in the general population. The aim of this study was to test the knowledge and attitudes of the students regarding the use of stimulative substances and dietary supplements in sports. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed among students at the College of Health and Professional Studies in Belgrade, Serbia. The data was collected by filling in an especially designed questionnaire. Results. Knowledge of prohibited substances and methods was characterized as 'good' with 24.2% of respondents, namely 8.09% of males and 16.1% of females; knowledge of the adverse effects of prohibited substances and methods on health was demonstrated by 17.7% (9.03% of male respondents and 8.72% of female respondents). Conclusion. Student population is not knowledgeable enough about the problems of prohibited substances use and their negative effects on one's health. The comparative analysis of our and European researches on knowledge, attitudes and uses of prohibited substances show a rather uniform prevalence rate. Not being aware of the adverse effects shows the need to further educate students.

Uvod/Cilj. Sportisti oduvek u takmičarskom sportu pokušavaju da poprave svoje sposobnosti uzimanjem različitih supstanci. Problem korišćenja nedozvoljenih supstanci nije vezan isključivo za elitne sportiste, već je prisutan i u opštoj populaciji. Cilj rada bio je ispitivanje znanja i stavova studenata u vezi sa upotrebom stimulativnih supstanci i dijetetskih suplemenata u sportu. Metode. Istraživanje je srovedeno kao studija preseka kod studentske populacije u Visokoj zdravstvenoj školi strukovnih studija u Beogradu. Podaci su prikupljani popunjavanjem posebno dizajniranog upitnika. Rezultati. Dobro znanje o nedozvoljenim supstancama i metodama, pokazalo je 24,2% ispitanika (8,09% muškog pola i 16,1% ženskog pola), a o neželjenim efektima zabranjenih supstanci i metoda na zdravlje, znanje je pokazalo 17,7% ispitanika (9,03% muškog pola i 8,72% ženskog pola). Zaključak. Populacija studenata nema dovoljno znanja o problemu upotrebe nedozvoljenih supstanci i njihovim negativnim posledicama po zdravlje. Komparativna analiza našeg i evropskih istraživanja znanja, stavova i upotrebe nedozvoljenih supstanci ukazuje na približno ujednačene stope prevalencije. Nepoznavanje neželjenih efekata ukazuje na potrebu za dodatnom edukacijom studenata.