Alcohol consumption, Quality of Life and Brief Intervention among Nursing university students

Substance Use, Alcohol Consumption, and Smoking Prevalence Amongst Medical Students in Erbil, Iraq

BACKGROUND

A significant proportion of medical students engage in the illicit use of drugs and indulge in heavy alcohol consumption. The utilization of substances during medical school frequently has repercussions on both the personal and professional lives of students. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the extent of substance use, alcohol consumption, and smoking among medical students in Erbil City.

METHODS

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted at Hawler Medical University (HMU) for this purpose. The study involved 368 students from stages one to six. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic information, Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) scales. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States).

RESULTS

A total of 368 students were involved in the study. The mean age (SD) of the respondents was 20.92 (2.01) years; 191 (51.9%) participants were males. Thirty-two (8.7%) students have used substance in the last 12 months; 10 (31.2%) of them were non-problematic drug users, 20 (62.5%) were problematic drug users, and 2 (6.3%) were dependent users. Twenty-nine (7.9%) students were alcohol users; 17 (58.7%) were categorized as low-risk users, 5 (17.2%) as hazardous users, and 7 (24.1%) as dependent users. Regarding smoking, 45 (12.2%) students were smokers, among this group, 27 (60%) were categorized as having low dependence, and 18 (40%) had high dependence.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest a worrying trend of substance misuse among university students. There is a critical need for targeted preventive interventions that address these issues to enhance student health and educational outcomes.

Diferencias en estilos de vida según el consumo de alcohol en universitarios: estudio longitudinal

Introducción: Estilos de vida sedentarios, sin control nutricional y consumo de alcohol habitual podrían estar incrementando los riesgos a la salud en población universitaria. Objetivo: Analizar las diferencias en estilos de vida al respecto de la ingesta habitual de nutrimentos, gasto energético y actividad física de acuerdo con el consumo de alcohol en universitarios. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, correlacional, longitudinal con dos mediciones en una muestra de 67 estudiantes del área de la salud en 2017 y 2020. Se incluyó estudiantes vigentes de la universidad que aceptaran participar de manera voluntaria. Se aplicó cédula de datos personales, el recordatorio de 24 horas de pasos múltiples, el Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física y se midió la composición corporal. Análisis inferenciales con pruebas de correlación, U de Mann Whitney y prueba de Wilcoxon. Resultados: El 54.2 % de las mujeres y 73.7 % de los hombres refirieron consumir alcohol actualmente. Hubo diferencias estadísticas en gasto energético total y la ingesta de carbohidratos entre los que consumen y no consumen alcohol con p< 05. En ambos grupos el consumo de proteínas se asoció con la ingesta de lípidos con p<.01. Entre mediciones, se encontraron diferencias estadísticas con índice de masa corporal, el consumo calórico total y el gasto energético total con p< 03. Conclusiones: En esta muestra el consumo de alcohol propició diferencias al respecto de mayor composición corporal, consumo calórico y gasto energético lo que puede incidir en mayor posibilidad de exceso de peso en universitarios.

Relações entre depressão, estresse percebido, ansiedade, qualidade de vida e características de estudantes de Enfermagem

Objetivo: avaliar a relação entre ansiedade, estresse percebido e sintomas de depressão com qualidade de vida e as características sociodemográficas, acadêmicas e clínicas dos estudantes de Enfermagem. Métodos: este é um estudo transversal correlacional realizado com 173 estudantes de Enfermagem matriculados em 2017 na Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brasil. Ansiedade, sintomas de depressão, estresse e qualidade de vida foram avaliados, respectivamente, pelo Beck Anxiety Inventory, o Beck Depression Inventory, a Perceived Stress Scale e o Short-Form Health Survey. Resultados: 24,6% dos estudantes tinham ansiedade leve, 24,0% tinham ansiedade moderada e 11,1% tinham ansiedade severa. A maioria dos diagnosticados com depressão apresentava sintomas graves (47,4%) da doença. A maioria dos que não foram diagnosticados com depressão não apresentava sintomas (67,1%). O nível médio de estresse foi de 20,9 da pontuação máxima de 40. O domínio da qualidade de vida com a pontuação mais baixa foi a vitalidade, enquanto o domínio com a pontuação mais alta foi a capacidade funcional. Conclusão: depressão, ansiedade e estresse estavam relacionados a diferentes características sociodemográficas, acadêmicas e clínicas, assim como apresentaram relação com alguns domínios da qualidade de vida, os quais deveriam ser objeto das intervenções.

Intervenciones para reducir el consumo de alcohol en jóvenes universitarios

Introducción: el consumo nocivo y excesivo de alcohol en los jóvenes ha sido reconocido como un comportamiento de riesgo significativo, por tanto, reducir el consumo y los problemas asociados es una prioridad entre los investigadores, educadores y profesionales de la salud que trabajan con esta población. Objetivo: examinar la evidencia actual sobre las intervenciones para reducir el consumo de alcohol de jóvenes universitarios. Método: se utilizó la metodología propuesta por Toronto y Remington. Para la evaluación y selección de los artículos cuantitativos se empleó el Instrumento de Criterios de Elegibilidad para la Selección de los Artículos de Investigación (ICrESAI) y para la evaluación de los ensayos clínicos aleatorizados se empleó la lista de verificación Estándares Consolidados de Informes de Ensayos (Consort). Resultados: se encontraron trece artículos, diez de ellos ensayos clínicos aleatorizados, dos cuantitativos longitudinales y un ensayo factorial. Conclusión: se encontró una gran variedad de diseños y propuestas de intervención, dentro de las cuales se demostró que las intervenciones breves entregadas de manera digital, tanto en la web, como en teléfonos inteligentes, son efectivas para reducir el consumo de riesgo de alcohol entre los jóvenes.

Modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and quality of life among first-year nursing students

OBJECTIVE

To describe the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and the quality of life of first-year college students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study conducted with first-year undergraduate nursing students attending a public university located in São Paulo, Brazil. The students completed nine questionnaires and the students'cervical and abdominal circumferences were measured along with their weight and height, blood pressure, lipid profile, and capillary blood glucose.

RESULTS

67 undergraduate students were included. Half of the students were physically inactive (73.1%), 7.5% reported smoking, 40.3% alcohol consumption, 25.4% overweight, and 16,4% increased total cholesterol. Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress were also reported, as well as excessive daytime sleepiness, risk of sleep apnea, and risky and harmful consumption of alcohol. As for the quality of life, the domains with the lowest scores were vitality and emotional aspects.

CONCLUSION

The most prevalent risk factors found in undergraduates were sedentary lifestyle, excessive daytime sleepiness and stress.

Fatores de risco modificáveis para doenças cardiovasculares e qualidade de vida de ingressantes da graduação de enfermagem

RESUMO Objetivo Descrever os fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares e a qualidade de vida de alunos ingressantes no curso de enfermagem. Métodos Estudo transversal realizado com ingressantes no curso de enfermagem de uma Universidade Pública de São Paulo, Brasil. Os alunos responderam a nove questionários e as circunferências cervical e abdominal foram medidas, juntamente com peso e altura, pressão arterial, perfil lipídico e glicemia capilar. Resultados 67 alunos foram incluídos. Alguns estudantes apresentaram inatividade física (73,1%), 7,5% reportaram tabagismo, 40,3% consumiam álcool, 25,4% estavam acima do peso e 16,4% tinham aumento do colesterol total. Sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse também foram reportados, assim como sonolência diurna excessiva, risco de apneia do sono e uso de risco ou nocivo de álcool. Quanto a qualidade de vida, os domínios com menor pontuação foram vitalidade e aspecto emocional. Conclusão Os fatores de risco mais prevalentes encontrados nos alunos foram sedentarismo, sonolência diurna excessiva e estresse.

Knowledge and Practice towards Alcohol Consumption in a Sample of University Students

Objective: Alcohol affects many human systems and is involved in the pathogenesis of other diseases. Particular attention must be paid to alcohol consumption among young people. It has been shown that 25% of young people's deaths are attributable to alcohol, and around 35 million people aged over 11 had consumed at least one alcoholic beverage in 2015. Study Design: Young people aged 18-24 were the most vulnerable to binge drinking in Italy, and 50.6% of teenagers drunk alcohol. Only a few studies in the literature have investigated those habits in university students. This study aims to examine alcohol use habits in a population of university students in Italy. Methods: Between 2018 and 2019, an anonymous online questionnaire was randomly sent to university students from 17 different universities in a network of research centres to study alcohol use disorders. The survey included socio-demographic information, questions about alcohol use, knowledge about alcohol consumption, and related risks. Used questionnaires were the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) and the Drinking Motive Questionnaire-Revised (DMQ-R). Results: the AUDIT-C revealed that 53.3% of students were high-risk drinkers. Regarding binge drinking habits, 13.1% of students admitted to binge drinking behavior at least once a month. In our sample, male students are more likely to be low-risk drinkers than female peers (p < 0.008). Students from northern Italy are more likely to be high-risk drinkers (p = 0.003). Beer (65.9%) and wine (60.9%) were the most consumed alcoholic beverages. The most common places to drink alcohol were pubs (85.5%). The most likely motivations to drink alcohol were enhancement (40.43%), social (38.39%), coping (15.63%), and social pressure or conformity (5.55%). Only 43.8% of participants reported having attended an educational course on alcohol. Conclusions: University students were not fully aware of the implications of alcohol misuse and will be part of the adult society as critical figures and future leaders. It is imperative to inform students about alcohol consumption risks and investigate the motivations to drink. Stress, anxiety, and social pressure are only a few issues young people are exposed to. Special attention must be paid to young people and their coping strategies that involve substance abuse by using educative, preventive, and motivational approaches.

Alcohol consumption by medical students

OBJECTIVE Excessive alcohol consumption is a global health issue. This article aims to evaluate the consumption of alcohol by medical students in relation to their personal and social aspects. METHODS This study was conducted with students in the first, third, and sixth year of medical school at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in 2019. Students were invited to participate anonymously by responding to a questionnaire with 15 questions regarding student characteristics (gender, age, family income, physical activity, origin, housing condition, and academic performance) and alcohol consumption (onset, reason, occasions of use, type of drink, amount consumed). Data were compared with significance corresponding to p<0.05. RESULTS A sample of 382 students of both sexes responded to the questionnaire. Alcohol consumption was reported by 85% of students. About 70% of first and third-year students and 47% of those of the sixth year were motivated by socializing with peers. Alcohol consumption was prevalent among those who practice physical activities (93%) and live with their families (89%). Around 80% had consumed alcohol before starting medical school, and consumption was more frequent in males. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol consumption begins during high school, stimulated by socialization. Men who practice physical activities and live with their families are the largest consumers.

IMPACT OF SELF-ESTEEM AND OF THE SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON THE SELF-EFFICACY OF UDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS

ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify self-efficacy and self-esteem levels in undergraduate nursing students and to verify the mutual relationship between these constructs and with sociodemographic variables. Method: a cross-sectional study, with a sample of 264 students from two universities. Self-esteem and self-efficacy were measured by the Brazilian versions of the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem and of the General and Perceived Self-Efficacy scales, respectively. Results: a predominance of moderate to high self-efficacy was identified, with a mean score of 35.29 and moderate self-esteem, with a mean of 23.48. Self-efficacy was associated with the male gender, priority option in the college entrance examination by nursing, satisfaction with the course and absence of overload, besides correlating positively with age and self-esteem. Conclusion: self-efficacy and self-esteem levels were moderate/high and moderate, respectively. These constructs have shown a mutual relationship and assume an indispensable role both in the individual's personal life and in the professionalization process. These findings point to the need to strengthen mental health in this population, especially in vulnerable students (female, activity overload, dissatisfaction with the course and low self-esteem and self-efficacy), in order to foster their sense of value and the belief in their abilities.