A study to assess the knowledge among the BAMS students regarding substance abuse in Ganga Sheel Ayurvedic Medical College, Bareilly (U.P) with a view to develop information pamphlet

 

Ina Flora Singh*, Anuj Kumar, Prashant Sharma, Anamika Rajpoot, Karamjeet Kaur, Priyanka

Assistant Professor, Department of Mental Health Nursing, Ganga Sheel School of Nursing, Bareilly,

Uttar Pradesh, India.

 

ABSTRACT:

Introduction: Adolescence is a time of great change marked by physical, cognitive, social, emotional and interpersonal changes. It is a period of both opportunities as well as a time of vulnerability and hazard. During this period they make significant choice about their health and develop attitude and health behaviour pattern that will continue into adulthood. As they grow up and develop, they are also influenced by outside factors such as living environment, culture, religion, college and the media^. The incidence of substance use is notable at this stage because this is the time for experimentation and identity formation. Methodology: A Quantitative research approach with Descriptive research design was used for the study to assess the knowledge of BAMS students on substance abuse. The population comprised of BAMS students. The study was conducted at Ganga Sheel Ayurvedic medical College, Bareilly. Convenient Sampling technique was used to select the 30 subjects from the population. Self developed structured Knowledge questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of BAMS students on substance abuse. Results: The results of the study shows that 50 % of BAMS students were having average knowledge regarding substance abuse. Conclusion: The study results indicate that the BAMS students were having average knowledge regarding substance abuse. There is need to improve knowledge of BAMS students regarding substance abuse.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizen it is necessary for us to prevent adolescents to become prone towards substance abuse. An adolescent is a period when lots of changes take place in body and mind. Adolescents start using harmful and illegal substances at younger age. Drinking, smoking, and drug use by adolescents affect general health, physical growth, emotional development and college performance.¹

 

The term substance is used in reference to any drug, medication, or toxin. Substance use becomes substance abuse when a person continues to use drugs or other substances even when it leads to serious personal consequences like family problems, losing friends, getting expelled from school, losing a job, or getting into legal trouble. Some people continue to use drugs because they want to. Others become psychologically or physically dependent on them Commonly used substances for abuse are alcohol, opioids, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and other sympathomimetics, hallucinogens, sedatives and hypnotics, nicotine, other stimulant like caffeine.²

 

The main causes for substance abuse are family history of substance use disorder, sense of inferiority, low self-esteem, pleasure seeking, and desire to experiment, poor stress management skills, peer pressure, unemployment, overcrowding, and poor social support.²

 

The continue use can lead to dependence syndrome with a group of behavioural, cognitive, and physiological effects. It not only causes disruption of family and social relationship but also leads to malnutrition, diseases, disability, loss of productivity, accident, crime, violence, suicide and homicide.³

 

Substance abuse prevention should be focused on alcohol, tobacco and cannabis as these substances are gate way drugs typically used first and may ultimately lead to the use of more dangerous hard drugs and crime. The study conducted before also suggested that if the adolescent can be kept free from drugs by imparting adequate informative and normative education regarding the cause and harmful effects, most of them will not use drugs during their lifetime. Hence, college is the best place and adolescent’s period is the best timing for the early prevention and early detection of substance abuse with suggestive evidence of twice cost-effective than treatment cost.⁴

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A Quantitative research approach with Descriptive research design was used for the study to assess the knowledge of BAMS students on substance abuse. The population comprised of BAMS students. BAMS students were selected from Ganga Sheel Ayurvedic medical College, Bareilly. Students of BAMS, who were willing to give consent and participate in the study, who were available at the time of data collection were included in the study. The students of BAMS were selected by Convenient Sampling technique. On the basis of standard sample size calculation total 30 subjects were recruited for the study. Self developed structured Knowledge questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of BAMS students on substance abuse. After explaining the purpose of the study written consent was taken from the participants before starting data collection. Assurance was given to the subjects that the anonymity of each individual will be maintained.

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Table no. 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of BAMS students according to socio- demographic variables. (N = 30)

 

 

Table No. 1 Illustrates that two third of BAMS student 19(63.33%) were males and only one third 11(36.66%) were females. Approximately half 14(46.66%) of the participants were in the age group of 20-23years and 13(43.33%) were in the age group of <20years, where as 3 (10%) were in the age group of 23-25 years. 30 (100%) of the participants were from the BAMS 1^st year. Majority of BAMS students 21(70%) there place of residence was hostel and 7(23.33%) there place of residence was their own house and 2(6.66%) were having room on rent and 0(0%) were staying at their friends house and with their relatives. Maximum no. 29(96.66%) of BAMS students were having no family history of substance abuse whereas only 01(3.33%) were having family history of substance abuse. Approximately half 16 (53.33%) of BAMS students father occupation was business and 08 (26.66%) were having government job and 05(16.66%) were having private job whereas 01 (3.33%) were in the other occupation. Maximum no. 28 (93.33%) of BAMS students mothers were housewife and 02 (6.66%) mothers were having government job and 0 (0%) were in private and 0(0%) were in others occupation. Maximum no. 25 (83.33%). of BAMS students family income was more than 30,000 and 5(16.66%) family income was between 21,000-30,000 and 0(0%) family income was between 10,000-20,000 and 0(0%) family income was below 10,000. Two third 18(60%) of BAMS students have source of knowledge from mass media and every fifth 6(20%) got knowledge from their family members and 3(10%) got knowledge from the health personnel and 3(10%) got knowledge from the peer groups. 30(100%) of BAMS students were single and 0(0%) were married and 0(0%) were divorced.

 

Table no. 2: Frequency and percentage distribution of knowledge level of BAMS students on substance abuse. (N = 30)

Aspect	Category	Frequency	Percentage %
Poor	5-10	5	16.66%
Average	11-15	15	50%
Good	16-20	7	23.33%
V.Good	21-25	3	10%

 

Table no. 2 reveals that, the knowledge level was average among 50 % of BAMS students on substance abuse, 23.33 % of BAMS students were having good knowledge regarding substance abuse, 16.66% of BAMS students were having poor knowledge regarding substance abuse, and nearly 10% of the BAMS students were having very good knowledge on substance abuse.

 

 

Table no 3: Association of Knowledge score and selected demographic variables among BAMS students. (N = 30)

S. No.	DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES	GOOD	AVERAGE	POOR	CHI-SQUARE CAL TAB	DF	SIGNIFICANCE
1	Gender Male Female	6 1	12 9	1 1	4.687 5.99	2	NS χ2
2	Age Group  <20 years 20-23 years 23-25years	1 3 0	13 9 3	1 0 0	3.34 9.49	4	NS χ2
3	Course year BAMS 1ST Year BAMS 2ND Year BAMS 3RD Year BAMS 4TH Year BAMS 5TH Year	30 0 0 0 0	0 0 0 0 0	0 0 0 0 0	30 12.59	6	NS χ2
4	Place of Residence Hostel On rent Own home Home of friend / relatives	2 0 2 0	18 2 5 0	1 0 0 0	2.362 12.59	6	NS χ2
5	Family History of Substance Abuse Yes No	0 4	1 2.4	0 1	19.9 5.99	2	NS χ2
6	Fathers Occupation Private Government Business Others	2 0 2 0	3 7 14 1	0 1 0 0	7.14 12.59	6	NS χ2
7	Mothers Occupation Housewife Government Private Others	4 0 0 0	23 2 0 0	1 0 0 0	0.4178 12.59	6	NS χ2
8	Family Income Below 10,000 10,000-20,000 21,000-30,000 More than 30,000	0 0 0 4	0 0 5 20	0 0 0 1	1.5 12.59	6	NS χ2
9	Source of Knowledge Mass media Health personnel Family members Peer groups	4 0 0 0	14 3 5 3	0 0 1 0	6.92 12.59	6	NS χ2
10	Mariatal Status Single Married Divorced	4 0 0	25 0 0	1 0 0	0	4	NS χ2

 

Table no. 3 shows that there is no significant association between knowledge score and gender, age, course year, place of residence, family history of substance abuse, father occupation, mother occupation, family income, source of knowledge, marital status.

 

CONCLUSION:

The study results indicate that the BAMS students were having average knowledge regarding substance abuse. There is need to improve knowledge of BAMS students regarding substance abuse.

 

ETHICAL CLEARANCE:

Ethical committee permission was obtained from the Ethical committee of Ganga Sheel School of nursing, Bareilly.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

Nil.

 

REFERENCES:

1.     Thomas N L, Naregal P M, Mohite V R, Tata S H, Karale R B, Kakade S V. Effectiveness of Role Play on Knowledge of Adolescents Regarding Substance Abuse: Journal of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University (Internet). April-June 2015. (Cited in 26 Apr 2018). Vol. 4, Page No.- 2: Issue no. - 2231-4261.

2.     Nebhinani N, Mamta N, Mishra A K, Gerwal S. Substance-Related Knowledge and Attitude In School and College Students: Reprinted from the German Journal of Psychiatry (Internet). 24.7.2013. (Cited in 26 Apr 2018). Page no.-16(1): Issue no.- 1433-1055. Available online: http://www.gjpsy.uni-goettingen.de

3.     Tsering D, Pal R, Dasgupta A. Substance use among adolescent high school students in India: A survey of knowledge, attitude, and opinion: Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied sciences (Internet). 2010 (cited Apr-Jun); 2(2): 137–140.

4.     Nahvizadeh M M, Akhavan S, Arti S, Qaraat L, Geramian N, Farajzadegan Z, Heidari K, A Review Study of Substance Abuse Status in High School Students, Isfahan, Iran: International Journal of preventive medicine [Internet]: 2014 August [ cited 2014 Dec]: 5(Suppl 2): S77–S82

 

Received on 08.04.2020          Modified on 23.04.2020

Accepted on 06.05.2020     © AandV Publications all right reserved