Academic performance and use of psychoactive drugs among healthcare students at a university in southern Brazil: cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: People have been using psychoactive substances for a long time. Over the last few years, this practice has spread among university students, who use these substances to improve their academic performance, relieve stress and increase concentration and memory. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the use of psychoactive drugs among healthcare students at a higher education institution in the city of Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil, and to ascertain the associated demographic and lifestyle factors. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in a higher education institution. METHODS: We included 287 undergraduate medicine and dentistry students in this study. They answered a self-administered questionnaire regarding sociodemographic, lifestyle and health variables. The statistical analysis used univariate and bivariate analyses with Pearson's chi-square test (P-value < 0.05). -Multivariate analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals. The SPSS software, version 20.0, was used. RESULTS: The prevalence of use of psychoactive substances among the students was 24.7%. Among these students, high frequencies of psychoactive drugs had been prescribed by physicians (95.8%) and for the purpose of relaxation or stress relief (73.2%). Women, medical students (compared with dental students) and participants with lower academic performance were more likely to use psychoactive drugs. After the multivariate adjustment, the "course" and "academic performance" remained associated with use of psychoactive drugs. CONCLUSION: There was high prevalence of psychoactive drug use among the students at the higher education institution investigated. Some variables (female sex, medical students and low academic performance) were associated with the outcome.

Academic performance and use of psychoactive drugs among healthcare students at a university in southern Brazil: cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: People have been using psychoactive substances for a long time. Over the last few years, this practice has spread among university students, who use these substances to improve their academic performance, relieve stress and increase concentration and memory. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the use of psychoactive drugs among healthcare students at a higher education institution in the city of Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil, and to ascertain the associated demographic and lifestyle factors. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in a higher education institution. METHODS: We included 287 undergraduate medicine and dentistry students in this study. They answered a self-administered questionnaire regarding sociodemographic, lifestyle and health variables. The statistical analysis used univariate and bivariate analyses with Pearson's chi-square test (P-value < 0.05). ­Multivariate analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals. The SPSS software, version 20.0, was used. RESULTS: The prevalence of use of psychoactive substances among the students was 24.7%. Among these students, high frequencies of psychoactive drugs had been prescribed by physicians (95.8%) and for the purpose of relaxation or stress relief (73.2%). Women, medical students (compared with dental students) and participants with lower academic performance were more likely to use psychoactive drugs. After the multivariate adjustment, the "course" and "academic performance" remained associated with use of psychoactive drugs. CONCLUSION: There was high prevalence of psychoactive drug use among the students at the higher education institution investigated. Some variables (female sex, medical students and low academic performance) were associated with the outcome.

Effect of Recreational Intervention on the Approach of Pediatric Patients in Dental Treatment: Analysis of Salivary Cortisol

Abstract Objective: To verify whether recreational interaction with pediatric patient before dental care influences cortisol levels and anxiety. Material and Methods: Twelve children were selected and divided into two groups: 6 children who had not previously received recreational intervention (Group I) and 6 children who received recreational intervention before dental care (Group II). Saliva was collected with Salivettes™ kits before and soon after dental care for the measurement of cortisol. Wilcoxon test was applied to verify the difference in salivary cortisol levels before and after the dental visit in the whole sample, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the difference between groups I and II. A significance level of 0.05 was considered. Results: Among patients from Group I, 3 had their cortisol levels increased after dental care, 2 had their cortisol levels decreased, and the other 1 patient remained constant. All participants from Group II had no significant difference in cortisol levels pre- and post-procedure. Mean salivary cortisol level was higher in Group I, pre- and post-procedure, compared to Group II. Conclusion: Pediatric patients who participated in an interactive activity prior to dental care have a lower level of anxiety according to the salivary cortisol levels obtained, compared to patients who did not participate in recreation. The techniques for the dentist to approach the child control the anxiety of the patient and make the procedure calmer and less stressful for both of them.

Prevalence of TMJ pain symptom in adults and its association with predisposing factors / Prevalência do sintoma de dor na ATM em adultos e sua associação com fatores predisponentes

To estimate the prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain symptom and to verify its association with predisposing or perpetuating factors. Cross-sectional study of adult patients, with 488 medical records of patients assisted at the Clinics of the School of Dentistry of IMED, in the city of Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. The data were collected through the anamnestic record based on patient self-report. The chi-square test at 5% significance level was used to evaluate the relationship between the outcome of TMJ pain and the variables. In addition, bivariate and multivariate Poisson analyses were performed at 5% significance level to confirm the associations, including to the multivariate analysis the variables with p ≤ 0.20 in the bivariate analysis. The prevalence of TMJ pain in this adult population was 21.52% (n=105).There was an association between TMJ pain and the variables of teeth clenching and habit of biting objects (p<0.05). This study concluded that the prevalence of TMJ pain symptom agrees with the mean prevalence found in the literature for studies with convenience samples, and teeth clenching and the habit of biting objects may represent perpetuating or predisposing factors for such condition.

Estimar a prevalência do sintoma dor na articulação temporomandibular (ATM) e verificar sua associação com fatores predisponentes ou perpetuantes. Estudo transversal de pacientes adultos, com 488 prontuários de pacientes atendidos na Clínica de graduação da Escola de Odontologia da IMED do município de Passo Fundo. Os dados foram coletados através da ficha anamnésica baseando-se no auto relato, do paciente. O teste do qui-quadrado, com nível de significância de 5%, foi utilizado para avaliar a relação entre o desfecho dor na ATM e as variáveis. E para confirmar as associações, foram realizadas análises de Poisson, bivariada e multivariada, com nível de significância de 5%, sendo incluídas na análise multivariada as variáveis com p ≤ 0,20 na análise bivariada. A prevalência de dor na ATM nessa população adulta foi de 21,52% (n=105).Encontrou-se associação entre dor na ATM e as variáveis apertamento dental e hábito de morder objetos (p<0.05). Neste estudo pode - se concluir que a prevalência do sintoma dor na ATM está de acordo com a média de prevalência encontrada na literatura para estudos com amostra de conveniência e os fatores apertamento dental e hábito de morder objetos podem ser perpetuantes ou predisponentes para tal condição.