Eating disorders: Prevalence and associated factors among health occupation students in Monastir University (Tunisia).

BACKGROUND: Despite their high prevalence and severity among youth, national researches concerning eating disordered behavior among undergraduate students remains rare. Hence, it is imperative to determine the amplitude and to identify the risk factors of eating disorders (ED) to enable effective interventions. AIM: To assess prevalence and associated factors of (ED) among health occupation students in the university of Monastir during 2013. METHODS: A cross sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire which was distributed by approaching directly students. The following items were collected: demographic, socioeconomic and educational characteristics; self-esteem; previous dieting; perceived stress score(Cohen's scale); depression (Beck Depression); sleep quality; sport practice; cyber addiction (Orman scale) and alcohol regular use (CRAFT-ADOPSA questionnaire). SCOFF questionnaire was used to identify students at risk of ED. RESULTS: A total of 974 students were included in the study. The mean age of students was 22.8 (Standard Deviation=2.2) with a sex ratio of 0.43. The prevalence of ED according to SCOFF questionnaire was 35%; 95% CI [32.0-38.5]. It was higher among female (39.8; 95% CI [35.8-43.7]) compared to male (24.3; 95% CI [18.8-29.7]) with a statistically significant difference (p<10-3). The risk factors associated independently with an eating disorder were "Previous dieting" (aOR=4.13; 95% CI [2.79-6.12]),"Sex" (aOR=1.77. 95% CI [1.13-2.77]) and "Repeat a year" (aOR=1.76; 95% CI [1.09-2.85]). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of health occupation students at risk of ED was high. These results emphasizes the need for diversified and adapted prevention and health education policies as well as a need for a systematic screening of ED among students in order to start an early treatment that can improve their prognosis.

Alcohol consumption among health sciences students at the University of Monastir (Tunisia, 2014).

BACKGROUND: Studies conducted on characteristics of alcohol consumption and associated risk factors among health occupations students are scarce in the southern shore of the Mediterranean. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of alcohol use and misuse across a large sample of college students in Monastir university. METHODS: A cross sectional study was performed between April 2013 and September 2013. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was filled out by health occupations students from pharmacy, dentistry and medicine faculties .Data on socioeconomic characteristics and lifestyle were collected. Alcohol consumption patterns was studied via AUDIT-C and ADOPSA scales in order to assess respectively risky alcohol consumption and alcoholic disorder. RESULTS: A total of 974 students were included. The mean age of students was 22.8 years (SD = 2.2) with a male-female ratio of 0.43. The overall prevalence of alcohol consumption, risky alcohol consumption, alcoholic disorder were respectively 14.1% (95%) CI [12.2-16.5]; 52.5% (95%) CI [43.4-61.2] and 79.1% (95%) CI [71.9-85.6]. CONCLUSION: This study highlights that health occupations students are not speared from presenting unhealthy behaviors like alcohol use and misuse Although prevalence of alcohol consumption is low the risky patterns of this consumption is alarming. and higher than described in similar population in other countries.

Smoking behavior among students of health sciences at the university of Monastir (Tunisia).

OBJECTIVE: Measure the prevalence of smoking among students of health sciences Faculties in Monastir (Tunisia) and identify factors associated with smoking behavior. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire conducted among students registered in their second, fourth and sixth year at the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy in Monastir, in 2013. Smoker was the subject who, at the time of the survey, smoked at least one cigarette per day. Academic difficulties were used to denote any of the following incidents that a student may experience: passing exams at the retake session, revalidating an internship or repeating a school year. A logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with smoking. RESULTS: The number of participants was 634 (285 Medical students and 349 Pharmacy students); they were 170 males and 464 females. The prevalence of smoking was 15%; 95% IC [12.1-17.7]. It was nearly five times higher among male compared to female students (35.3%; 95% IC [28.1-42.5]) vs 7.5%; 95% IC [5.1-9.9]); It was also higher among Pharmacy students than among Medical students (18.9%; 95% IC [14.8-23.0]) vs 10.2%; 95% IC [6.7-13.7]). In the multivariate analysis, the Faculty of Pharmacy (ORa=3.081; 95% IC=[1.7-5.7]), the male sex (ORa=6.929; 95% IC [3.9-12.0]) and the academic difficulties (ORa=1.854; 95% IC [1.02-3.38]) were found to be significantly associated with smoking. CONCLUSION: The level of tobacco use found among Medical and Pharmacy students is alarming. This serious problem has a negative impact on their behavior and can hinder their role model as future health professionals. Greater efforts are needed to develop anti-smoking programs, to educate students and to offer psychological support to deal with school difficulties.