Knowledge, attitude and practice of anabolic steroid usage among gym users in Trinidad

ABSTRACT

Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 1062 gym users in 14 gyms in Trinidad from February to July. 1997 tp determine , attitude and practices regarding anabolic steroids (AS). Five hundred and sixty (53 percent) females and 502 (48 percent) males participated with half of the total sample in the 20 to 29 year age group. From the 17 questions which tested knowledge about AS, the median number of correct responses was 7 with a mode of 8. Increased muscle mass was correctly identified as one of the effects of AS by 841 respondents (79 percent), while 249 (24 percent) of the total sample thought that asthma was treated with AS. Most (872 or 82 percent) felt that their knowledge about AS was inadequate and 700 (66 percent) were of the opinion that AS should be banned from use in competition. Similarly, 733 (70 percent) of the gym users thought AS should be available only by prescription. Thirty respondents reported having used AS (2.9 percent, 95 percent CI 2.0-4.1) and the prevalence of AS use was higher among males than females (X = 13.28, p<0.001, df = 1). Improvement of physical appearance was one of the main reasons cited for AS use. AS users knew more about the adverse effects of AS than non-AS users. However, the therapeutic uses of AS were comparatively less well known amongst both AS and non-AS gym-users. This study demonstrates a lack of knowledge about AS among the gym users and a prevalence of AS use of 2.8 percent which may be an underestimation due to the self-reporting nature of the questionnaire.(AU)