Abstract
M.Tech. (Homoeopathy)
Students experience constant stress when studying and this can have an effect on their mental and physical health. This may result in fatigue and a lack of mental performance and can lead to a decrease in concentration, forgetfulness, confusion and burnout. Apart from conventional medication, students may also make use of a wide range of Complementary Medicines (CM) or stimulants to increase their mental alertness or to treat their mental fatigue.
A systematic review of peer-reviewed studies showed that students made use of CM modalities at higher rates than the rest of the adult population. It was recommended that further health education pertaining to CM be targeted towards these students. CM products are readily available, but students may not know all the risks and side effects of these products or the interactions between these products, and may therefore over-prescribe. Previous research indicates that students are not familiar with CM, but many ingest CM substances on the basis of self-medication and without sufficient knowledge. While there is much research on the use of CM, little research is focused on CM use for enhancing mental alertness.
The aim of this study was to determine the use of stimulants and Complementary Medicine to enhance mental alertness by Health Sciences students at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). This was evaluated by means of a questionnaire.
This research was a quantitative-descriptive survey design study. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to Health Sciences students between the ages of 18-40, who were registered at UJ for the 2016 academic year. The researcher contacted or emailed class representatives of the various departments within the Faculty of Health Sciences and provided them with the advertisement. Thereafter, if the class was willing to meet, the researcher set up an appointment with the class to explain the research and disseminate the questionnaire. The survey took place at the UJ Doornfontein campus, once relevant permission was obtained. Prospective participants were met at their lecture venues at appointed times. Participation was voluntary and consent was given by participants prior to filling in the questionnaire. The questionnaire took approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Data from the questionnaires was captured by the researcher. The data obtained was analysed with the assistance of STATKON, UJ, by using frequencies and column table analysis.