Do Medical Universities Students Use Cognitive Enhancers while Learning?-Conclusions from the Study in Poland

Abstract

Background: Stress and everyday problems may impact memory and cognition. Therefore, many people use cognitive enhancers (CEs), sold for prescription, as over-the-counter drugs, or dietary supplements, believing they may help with everyday functioning. Our study was designed to answer whether taking CEs is common among Medical University students and to identify which substances are mainly used.

Methods and results: An anonymous online questionnaire was answered by 479 students of Medical (88%) and Dentistry (12%) Faculties in Poland. Women constituted the majority of respondents (63%). CEs were used by 53% of respondents, with the most frequent being caffeine, ginseng, nicotine, theanine, ginkgo, and lecithin. Some persons used CEs that are available only with a prescription. The most important reasons for the use of CEs were to increase arousal and improve concentration (mentioned by 81% and 73%, respectively). Over 65% of students experienced some undesired/adverse effects after taking CEs, with tachycardia being the most common, followed by sleep disturbances (reported by 51% and 40%, respectively).

Conclusions: More than half of the respondents from the Medical and Dentistry Faculties reported using CEs, despite their unproven efficacy and not-well-established safety. This raises significant concern about the knowledge of young persons regarding CEs and should encourage universities to undertake educational actions.

Keywords: Medical University students; caffeine; cognitive enhancers; dietary supplements; ginkgo; ginseng; lecithin; nicotine; online survey; theanine.

Figure 1

The primary demographic data of the respondents. Gender (A), Faculty (B), and age (C); Younger refers to students from 18 to 21 years of age, and Older refers to students over 21 years of age.

Figure 2

The use of cognitive enhancers by the students at Medical Universities in Poland (A) and the frequency of the cognitive enhancers use among respondents (B).

Figure 3

The most often used cognitive enhancers by Medical Universities students. In the figure are mentioned CEs used by at least 5% of the respondents; other CEs are mentioned in the text.

Figure 4

The main reasons why the students started the use of cognitive enhancers at all.

Figure 5

The main reasons for using cognitive enhancers among the respondents (A) and the primary sources of knowledge about cognitive enhancers for Medical Universities students (B).

Figure 6

The main pharmacological effects noticed by the students during the use of cognitive enhancers.

Figure 7

The prevalence of the use of main CEs by male and female students. p-values were calculated using Pearson’s Chi-square test.

Figure 8

The prevalence of the use of main CEs by Medical and Dentistry students. p-values were calculated using Pearson’s Chi-square test.

Figure 9

The prevalence of CEs use by younger (18–21 years of age) and older (over 21 years of age) students. p-values were calculated using Pearson’s Chi-square test.

Figure 10

The most important adverse effects reported by respondents during the consumption of CEs.