Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30453936›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2018

Non-medical prescription stimulant use to improve academic performance among Australian university students: prevalence and correlates of use.

Jayne Lucke, Charmaine Jensen, Matthew Dunn, Gary Chan, Cynthia Forlini, Sharlene Kaye, Bradley Partridge, Michael Farrell, Eric Racine, Wayne Hall

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
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  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Neuroenhancement in French and Romanian University Students, Motivations and Associated Factors.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021
    Article
  11. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jayne LuckeAustralian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, School of Psychology and Public Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, Building NR6, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia. j.lucke@latrobe.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2885-5292
Charmaine JensenThe University of Queensland Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Matthew DunnSchool of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Gary ChanThe University of Queensland Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Cynthia ForliniSydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Sharlene KayeNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Bradley PartridgeResearch Development Unit, Caboolture Hospital, Caboolture, QLD, Australia.
Michael FarrellNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Eric RacinePragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Wayne HallThe University of Queensland Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Funding

Australian Research Council DP130100185
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSome university students consume pharmaceutical stimulants without a medical prescription with the goal of improving their academic performance. The prevalence of this practice has been well documented in the US, but less so in other countries. The potential harms of using prescription stimulants require a better understanding of the prevalence of this practice within Australian universities.

methodsAn internet survey of 1136 Australian students was conducted in 2015 in three large Australian universities. Students were asked about their personal use of prescription stimulants, attitudes and experiences with prescription stimulants. They were also asked about their use of caffeine, energy drinks and illicit drugs to enhance their academic performance.

resultsLifetime self-reported use of stimulant medication to improve academic performance was 6.5, and 4.4% in the past year. Students were far more likely to report using coffee and energy drinks (41.4 and 23.6% respectively, lifetime use) than prescription stimulants to help them study and complete university assessments. Non-medical use of prescription stimulants was strongly associated with a history of illicit drug use.

conclusionThe prevalence of nonmedical prescription stimulant use to improve academic performance is low among university students in Australia, especially when compared with their use of coffee and energy drinks.

Indexed as

Academic PerformanceAdolescentAdultAustraliaCaffeineCentral Nervous System StimulantsCoffeeEnergy DrinksFemaleHumansIllicit DrugsMalePrescription Drug MisusePrevalenceRisk FactorsStudentsCaffeineCentral Nervous System StimulantsCoffeeIllicit DrugsAustraliaCaffeineCognitive enhancement, academic performanceCorrelatesPrescription stimulantsPrevalenceUniversity students

Identifiers

PMID30453936
PMCPMC6245847

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.