Cannabis use and knowledge among medical students at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cannabis use among undergraduate medical students of the University of the Free State (UFS), and the extent of their knowledge about the substance. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included five year groups of undergraduate medical students. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was used. RESULTS: Of the 643 medical students, 541 (84.1%) completed the questionnaire. In total, 161 (30.9%) students reported that they had ever used cannabis. The percentage of males who had ever used cannabis was twice that of females (relative risk 2.04; 95% CI 1.56; 2.67). Of the cannabis users, less than 12% used it monthly or more often. A fifth (19.5%) of all students stated that they did not know the side effects of cannabis use. Nearly half (45.4%) indicated that they could not name any medicinal (medical) uses. The median knowledge score of students who used cannabis tended to be higher than that of students who did not use cannabis; this was statistically significant only in the third-year group. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students generally have a low level of knowledge about cannabis. The reported lifetime prevalence and pattern of cannabis use are similar to those reported in other South African studies published over the past 35 years.

Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State.

BACKGROUND: Faced with demanding training programmes, medical students may be more prone to use methylphenidate for non-medical purposes in order to improve concentration, alertness and academic performance. AIM: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the non-medical use of methylphenidate and knowledge of this drug among undergraduate medical students of the University of the Free State. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed during lectures to all students in the five year groups of the undergraduate medical programme. RESULTS: Of the 643 undergraduate medical students, 541 completed the questionnaire (response rate: 84.1%). Approximately 11.0% of surveyed students were using methylphenidate at the time of the study, of which the majority (67.9%) used it for academic purposes and 70.6% received it from a medical health professional. Less than a third of users had been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Methylphenidate users' median knowledge was greater than non-users, and methylphenidate knowledge increased from first-year and second-year students to third-year to fifth-year students. Median knowledge scores per year group ranged from 52.0% to 60.0%. CONCLUSION: Methylphenidate is mainly used for non-medical purposes by medical students. Students generally have a low level of knowledge on methylphenidate. Specific information on methylphenidate should be included in lectures on stress management and study methods during the course of the medical curriculum.