Illicit methylphenidate use among Iranian medical students: prevalence and knowledge

Figures & data

Table 1 The respondents’ knowledge of methylphenidate (n = 310)

Statement	True (%)	False (%)	I do not know (%)
1. Methylphenidate is an illicit prescription drug.	44.9	40.8	14.2
2. Methylphenidate carriers are criminal.	32.9	10.7	56.2
3. Increased concentration is one of its positive effects.	50	3.2	45.7
4. A person who uses methylphenidate can have high mental activity for hours without needing to relax.	40.4	5.9	53.5
5. Methylphenidate is advised for weight loss.	13.2	10.8	75.9
6. Positive effects of methylphenidate last only several hours.	39	6	54.8
7. Methylphenidate has no medical use.	45.7	11.4	43.3
8. Methylphenidate can cause increased hunger.	19.2	7.8	72.8
9. Methylphenidate decreases learning.	31.3	7.8	60.8
10. Methylphenidate causes low heart rate.	29.1	8.6	62.1
11. Methylphenidate has no characteristics of addictive drugs and users do not become dependent.	37.3	8.4	54.2

Table 2 Students’ and illicit methylphenidate users’ demographic characteristics

Student characteristics	All the respondents (n = 310)	Methylphenidate users (n = 27)	Pvalue
Age (years)	21.41 ± 2.07	21.94 ± 2.12	0.33b
Grade average (out of total 20)	15.48 ± 1.30	14.31 ± 1.50	<0.001a,b
Knowledge score	13.87 ± 3.17	15.83 ± 3.14	0.008a,b
Gender, n (%)
Male	134 (43.3)	25 (92.5)	<0.001a,c
Female	176 (56.7)	2 (7.5)
Marital status, n (%)
Married	17 (5.5)	0 (0)	0.29c
Single	293 (94.5)	27 (100)
Place of residence, n (%)
With family	129 (41.7)	7 (26)	0.59d
Dormitory	144 (46.4)	18 (66.6)
Rented house	37 (11.9)	2 (7.4)
School year, n (%)
1st year	56 (18.1)	2 (7.4)	0.17d
2nd year	21 (6.8)	4 (14.8)
3rd year	69 (22.1)	6 (22.2)
4th year	56 (18.1)	7 (26)
5th year	56 (18.1)	4 (14.8)
6th year	31 (10)	0 (0)
7th year	21 (6.8)	4 (14.8)

Notes:

a Statistically significant (P < 0.05);

b Independent Samples t-test;

c Fisher’s exact test;

d Chi-square test.