Uso de medicamentos psicoativos e características associadas em acadêmicos da área da saúde de uma universidade do Centro-Oeste brasileiro

Abstract

Objectives: to evaluate the prevalence of psychoactive drugs (psychostimulants, anxiolytics and antidepressants) and their associated factors in a sample of academics in the health area of a university in the Brazilian Midwest. Methodology: school-based cross-sectional study (university), with a census sample of 2,295 university students in the health area (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Physical Education, Dentistry and Medicine), of both sexes, aged 18 years or older, participants in a larger research project whose objective was to assess health conditions and associated factors in this population in 2018. Data were collected in October 2018 by a trained research team, using a standardized, pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire, composed of closed and open questions that were applied during the class period. Data were reported by participants, including demographic, socioeconomic, academic, behavioral and health variables. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP) of UNISINOS and UniRV and all participants signed an informed consent form (FICT). The thesis was divided into two studies: The first study entitled “Prevalence and factors associated with the use of psychostimulant drugs among academics from a university in the Brazilian Midwest” aimed to estimate the prevalence of the use of psychostimulant drugs in life, before and after the university admission and associated factors among university students in the Brazilian Midwest. The second study, called “Use of anxiolytics and antidepressants among academics in the health area: prevalence and factors related to university admission” aimed to characterize the use of anxiolytics and antidepressants among university students in the health area and to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics, academic, behavioral and health associated with use in life and after entering university. Both studies were stratified by sex and used multivariable regression analysis by Poisson regression with the use of medications (psychostimulants, anxiolytics and antidepressants) in life and after university entrance as dependent variables. Each variable was adjusted to the others at the same or more distal level based on a conceptual model of causality. Results: in the first study, a prevalence of use of psychostimulant drugs in life was observed, and after entering university they were 38.1% (95%CI: 34.5 - 41.7) and 43.8% (95%CI: 37, 4 to 50.2) in males and 29.5% (95%CI: 27.2 – 31.7) and 48.2% (CI 95% 43.5 to 52.9) in females, respectively. After adjustments, a higher probability of lifetime use occurred for university students studying medicine, with higher age at university entrance, who had already consumed illicit drugs in life and who reported a medical diagnosis of depression. For males, higher economic class and smoking increased the probability of use by 30%. Among women, not living with the family, having consulted a doctor and academic failure were also determinants of the use. In the second study, higher prevalences of lifetime use for the drugs investigated were found among academics (anxiolytics 33.4% vs 20.5%; antidepressants 28.1% vs 17.6%). Almost half of the university students who reported using it in their lifetime started using it after entering university (anxiolytics 43.6%, antidepressants 49.0%). After adjusting for confounders, greater probabilities of use were found for participants diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Late university entry increased the likelihood of lifetime use of anxiolytics. The likelihood of antidepressant use increased with age, and for medical students and smokers. For the outcome of use after university, there was a direct linear association with duration of the course and an inverse association with age of entry. Conclusions: there was a high prevalence of psychotropic drug use among university students in the Brazilian Midwest. In the first study, a higher proportion of use was observed for males and with onset before and close to university entrance. The beginning of academic life proved to be a determining factor for use in this population, especially for misuse. The second study observed that, among university students who entered university at a younger age, a lower probability of using anxiolytics and antidepressants in life was observed, but they were more likely to use these drugs after entering university.