Our results confirm that diseases result in pain and affect mobility and cognition in old age. Access to healthcare and services for older people involves recognition of the importance of health promotion and activities that will help prevent disease, and there should be a focus on maintaining independence, prevention and delay of disease, and disability treatment. This includes improving QoL in elderly people with existing disabilities. Reform of medical care services is essential to improve healthcare for the elderly and thus improve their QoL.

Background: Health professional students frequently use alcohol and narcotics. The potential impact on academic performance and professional behaviour is concerning.Aim: This study aimed to determine self-reported use of alcohol, illicit substances (e.g. cannabis, lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], magic mushroom, cocaine, crack, ecstasy, methamphetamine and heroin), prescription medication and smoking habits, correlating academic performance.Setting: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State.Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study design was used. Information was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire, capturing demographics, self-reported academic performance, drinking and smoking habits, and substance use. Coded responses were analysed using the Remark Office OMR 8 Software System. Descriptive statistics were calculated for categorical variables.Results: Completed questionnaires comprised 171 students. A total of 78.4% of second year and 82.8% of third year students reported using alcohol. Twenty-two per cent of second year and 24.1% of third year students reported cannabis use. In the second year group, three (2.7%) students reported using magic mushroom, two (1.8%) reported cocaine, two (1.8%) reported ecstasy and one (0.9%) reported using methamphetamine. Only third year students reported using LSD or ‘crack’. Cigarette smoking was common – 31.5% and 35.1% in both groups, respectively. Smokeless tobacco devices were used by 8.5% of second year and 7.1% of third year students. Almost 40% of both groups reported that they had smoked a water pipe. Academic performance achieved was mostly 60% – 69% (38.9%) among second year students and 70% – 79% (46.6%) among third year students.Conclusion: Self-reported use of alcohol and drugs and smoking among medical students is alarming. Additional student support, early identification and referral for management and/or rehabilitation should be a priority at tertiary institutions responsible for training future healthcare professionals.

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The use of alcohol and substances among students and young adults in South Africa is alarmingly high. Peer pressure, social activities and external influences have been reported as major factors driving students’ drinking behaviour. Nursing students may be vulnerable to alcohol and substance abuse, as they face various stressful situations in their personal and professional lives as developing healthcare professionals. This article describes the self-reported prevalence of alcohol and substance use among second-year nursing students in the Faculty of Health Sciences at a South African university, as well as the possible association between alcohol and substance use and academic performance. This was determined as part of a larger study. In this quantitative, cross-sectional study, data were collected by means of a questionnaire. Of the 75 second-year nursing students approached to participate, 69 completed the questionnaire (response rate 92.0%). The majority of the respondents (81.2%) reported alcohol consumption, 52.2 per cent consumed alcohol with an energy drink, and 17.4 per cent consumed alcohol in conjunction with cannabis. Less than half (40.6%) smoked cigarettes or tobacco and 21.7 per cent indicated cannabis use. One and a half per cent (1.5%) reported smoking smokeless tobacco. A small percentage (8.7%) indicated medication use for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which was obtained with a prescription and 7.3 per cent obtained the medication without a prescription. Sedatives and tranquilisers were reportedly used by 8.7 per cent with a prescription, and 5.8 per cent without. The use of glue and solvents, “spice” and LSD was reported by 5.8, 2.3 and 1.5 per cent, respectively. Substance use may lead to unprofessional behaviour. Intervention programmes could contribute to decreased academic stress, effective time management and educated professional students.