Sudanese Medical Students’ Perceptions of Psychoactive Substance Use

Background: Psychoactive substance use is a significant problem and the perception of physicians andmedical students for this problem is important since it may affect their behavior regarding managing patientswho suffer from substance-related problems. The objective of this study was to examine the perception ofSudanese medical students regarding psychoactive substance use and its possible associations withsociodemographic factors.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at a private Sudanese medical school in Khartoum,Sudan. A self-reporting questionnaire was distributed to all consenting students and data were analyzedusing SPSS software. Chi-square test was used to analyze the associations between different factors.Findings: Three hundred and seventeen students participated in the study, with response rate = 75.5%.Among them, 113 (35.9%) were men. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of age was 21.5 ± 4.2 years. Allstudents knew alcohol and 261 students (88.5%) reported having knowledge about cannabis. Knowledgeabout cannabis, cocaine, and heroin was more prevalent among female students. Most of the studentsdisagreed with the behavior of substance use, e.g., 94.2% in the case of alcohol. Most students reported that itwould be difficult - or even impossible - for them to use psychoactive substances.Conclusion: Most of the students perceived use of psychoactive substances to be associated with moderate tosevere risk. Female gender and studying secondary school in Sudan were associated with perceiving morerisk. Sudanese students' perception of psychoactive substance use seems to be favorable but still increasingawareness is recommende

Shizofreniformni poremećaj nakon pretjerane konzumacije energetskih pića: prikaz slučaja

Introduction - consumption of energy drinks is increasing each year worldwide, especially among young people seeking for assumed power and increased physical and emotional endurance. energy drinks contain caffeine which has stimulating effects, but its excessive and chronic consumption may cause unwanted effects; physically and mentally. There are some studies reported symptoms of psychotic and mood disorders associated with excessive use of caffeine. We present a case of clear psychotic features in a young female following a four-year history of consuming large amounts of energy drinks. In conclusion, this case suggests an association between excessive use of energy drinks and schizophreniform disorder.Uvod – potrošnja energetskih pića svake se godine povećava u cijelom svijetu, posebno među mladima koji traže osjećaj snage i povećanu fizičku i emocionalnu izdržljivost. Energetska pića sadrže kofein koji djeluje stimulativno, ali njegova pretjerana i kronična konzumacija može uzrokovati neželjene učinke; fizičke i psihičke. Postoje neke studije koje su izvijestile o simptomima psihotičnih poremećaja i poremećaja raspoloženja povezanih s pretjeranom uporabom kofeina. Predstavljamo slučaj s jasnim psihotičnim obilježjima kod mlade žene nakon četverogodišnje povijesti konzumiranja velikih količina energetskih pića. Zaključno, ovaj slučaj sugerira povezanost između pretjerane upotrebe energetskih pića i shizofreniformnog poremećaja

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PATTERNS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER; A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ON SUDANESE PATIENTS

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between different social factors and patterns of substance use disorder in Sudan. Methods: Data were collected using a structured interviewer-rated questionnaire designed by the researchers, and distributed to the patients who have drug use disorder at the two main psychiatry teaching hospitals in Khartoum state, Sudan. Results: The total number of participants was 124 and the majority (95.2%) were males, and 54.8% were single. The onset is mostly before the age of 25 years. The most common substance was cannabis followed by alcohol. Only 61 participants (49.1%) had come to the hospital seeking treatment of their own free will, and 41.9% of participants had a family history of substance use which was significantly associated with early-onset. The majority of participants (69.4%) started using psychoactive substances at the age of 15–25 years. Half of the participants use drugs only in a group of friends. Bad relations between parents, and between participants and parents were perceived by participants to have a role in starting drug use. Conclusion: Substance use is more common among males with an early onset. A family history of substance use associates with an earlier onset. The study shed the light on the social aspects of substance use in Sudan and recommended more efforts to restrict the availability of illicit drugs in the country

Comparing the participation of men and women in academic medicine in medical colleges in Sudan: A cross-sectional survey

INTRODUCTION: In different countries around the world, the involvement of women in academic medicine was less in comparison with men. This study aimed to assess whether there were significant gender differences in research perception, practice, and publication in Sudan. METHODS: This was an analytical cross-sectional study was carried out using questionnaire among 153 teaching staff of five Sudanese medical faculties from both genders, including teaching assistants, lecturers, assistant professors, associate professors, and full professors. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among participants' gender regarding their universities, qualifications, research training received after graduation, and participation in research currently or in the past or current position, but female participants seem to be younger as their mean of age was 38.8 (±9.2) compared with 42.6 (±10.1) for males. Importantly, the males' researcher has not only published significantly more than females but also appeared to have significantly more years of research experience. The mean score of research perception was higher among male participants who indicated that they had a more favorable perception of research. CONCLUSION: The study showed that in Sudanese medical colleges significantly higher percentage of men published scientific papers more than women. In addition, the male also had a significantly higher mean score of research perception which indicated that they had a more favorable perception of research