Nursing students’ use of products and substances to reduce stress or improve cognition during exam periods

• Published in: Nurse education in practice 2024-07, Vol.78, p.103981, Article 103981
• Main Authors: Skalska, Karolina, Ziółkowski, Maciej, Zielonka, Tadeusz M., Empacher, Marek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictions; Adult; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol use; Amphetamines; Anatomy; Attention Deficit Disorders; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Beliefs; Caffeine; Chocolate; Cigarettes; Coffee; Cognition; Cognitive enhancement; Cognitive functioning; College students; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dietary supplements; Dietary Supplements - statistics & numerical data; Drug dosages; Drugs; Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; Energy; Energy drinks; Female; Food; Food products; Health Behavior; Health services utilization; Healthy food; Humans; Institutional Research; Lifestyles; Male; Marijuana; Medical Services; Memory; Motivation; Narcotics; Nervous system; Nursing; Nursing education; Nursing Students; Opinions; Polls & surveys; Prescription drugs; Questionnaires; Side effects; Smoking; Stimulants; Stress; Stress management; Stress, Psychological; Student Surveys; Students; Students, Nursing - psychology; Students, Nursing - statistics & numerical data; Substance abuse; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tea; Tobacco; Vocational schools; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-5953; 1873-5223; 1873-5223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2024.103981

The aim of the project was to evaluate the prevalence, motivation and effects of the use of substances to improve cognitive function by nursing students during examination. Exam periods are among the most stressful weeks of the academic year for nursing students. During these times, some students may use substances to support cognitive functions. Some of them are used despite their potential harmfulness, even by nursing students. This was a cross-sectional study. The study was based on a voluntary, anonymous survey including 26 questions about use of various products belonging to food, dietary supplements, drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The study population was 221 students of nursing studying at Medical University of Warsaw. During the exam session, the most frequently used substance was strong tea. Dietary supplements are less popular. The surveyed students rarely use procognitive prescription drugs. However, consumption of alcohol, cigarettes or marijuana during the session was lower than outside of it declared by 61.5 %, 28.5 % and 6.3 % respectively (while outside of the exam session, 80.1 %, 29.0 % and 11.8 %, respectively). As for the purpose of using, most students mention improving concentration and memory, but most are not sure whether the products they use help them achieve their goals. Nearly two-thirds of students are aware of the harmfulness of stimulants and therefore do not use them and the products they do use are relatively safe for health. Most nursing students probably are aware of the harmfulness of listed products, especially belonging to prescription drugs, alcohol and stimulants and therefore do not use them. In turn, the products they use, such as chocolate or certain dietary supplements, are relatively safe for health, i.e. they do not cause dangerous addiction or side effects that may require seeking medical help. However, it is worrying that most of them regularly drink alcohol, many of them smoke tobacco and also use marijuana. The results do not indicate that a medical university and nursing vocational schools effectively promotes a healthy lifestyle for nursing students and changes in education in this area are necessary. A wide discussion on how to improve the health habits of future nurses should be taken.