Alcohol Consumption and Behavioral Consequences in Romanian Medical University Students

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is a major public health problem facing universities. The objectives of the present study were to investigate alcohol consumption and the behaviors associated with it among Romanian university medical students, with particular reference to sex differences, behavioral consequences, and lifestyle patterns. We performed a cross-sectional study on 722 medical students (60.4% females; 39.6% males); the participants filled out a validated questionnaire containing the following items co-occurring with alcohol consumption: smoking, illicit drug use, energy drink consumption, and other behavioral drinking consequences. Physical activity was estimated using the IPAQ questionnaire. We statistically analyzed the interrelation between alcohol consumption and target factors. The present study showed a high percentage of at-risk drinkers among male (15.0%) and female medical students (14.9%) in the studied group. Male students reported higher illicit drug use and physical activity than female students, but the at-risk female drinkers’ group consumed more drugs than the low-risk female drinkers. Both male and female drinkers engaged in other risky behaviors correlated with drinking (e.g., smoking, low academic performance, and driving a car after drinking). Public health policies, strategies, and interventions should be initiated to reduce alcohol consumption and associated behaviors in medical students.

Cigarette Smoking as a Predictor of Male DUI Recidivism

“…Independent of the aim of the study, it is interesting to highlight that the prevalence of tobacco use disorder in our samples (cases and the comparison group) was almost three times that observed in the overall Italian population [48]. This is consistent with the fact that alcohol and tobacco use are highly concurrent [42,49].…”

Alcohol Use Disorders among Slovak and Czech University Students: A Closer Look at Tobacco Use, Cannabis Use and Socio-Demographic Characteristics

“…The combined use of addictive substances in the university environment is not an exceptional phenomenon either [ 7 ]. According to Nasui et al [ 8 ], both male and female university drinkers engaged in other risky behaviours correlated with drinking. These patterns of behaviour have many consequences, whether it is a threat to health and life [ 9 ], reduced academic performance, missed classes and lower grades, memory blackouts, changes in brain function, lingering cognitive deficits, sexual assaults [ 10 ], but also poor mental health [ 11 ] or social problems [ 12 ].…”

Cigarette Smoking among Medical Students from the Western Balkan

“…The same study indicates that a tendency for risk behavior was highly associated with drinking and smoking, and that applied regulations have an impact on reducing smoking in students’ populations [ 35 ]. The study by Nasui et al [ 36 ] conducted on medical students from Romania showed that medical students who drank alcohol in higher amounts were more frequent smokers. The authors emphasize that medical students starting university education are at risk for alcohol and cigarette abuse behaviors because of changes in lifestyle and reduced parental support [ 35 , 36 ].…”

“…The study by Nasui et al [ 36 ] conducted on medical students from Romania showed that medical students who drank alcohol in higher amounts were more frequent smokers. The authors emphasize that medical students starting university education are at risk for alcohol and cigarette abuse behaviors because of changes in lifestyle and reduced parental support [ 35 , 36 ]. A way to cope with stressful life events, social engagement or to enhance mood, could be the most common reasons for alcohol consumption among medical students [ 35 , 36 ].…”

“…The same study indicates that there was consistent evidence that drinking alcohol increased the risk of smoking tobacco [ 45 ]. A study by Nasui et al [ 36 ], conducted in Romania on medical students, provides evidence that alcohol consumption was a positive predictor of smoking. Young people usually drank and smoked for social acceptance because of peer group pressures, to gain adult status and an image of strength.…”