Unit:
Τομέας Κοινωνικής Ιατρικής - Ψυχιατρικής και ΝευρολογίαςLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Φωτίου Αναστάσιος
Dissertation committee:
Άννα Κοκκέβη Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια, Κλεάνθη-Ελένη (Κλέα) Κατσουγιάννη Καθηγήτρια, Δημήτριος Πλουμπίδης Καθηγητής
Original Title:
Διερεύνηση της ποιότητας της μέτρησης της μη-συνταγογραφημένης χρήσης ψυχοδραστικών φαρμάκων στους εφήβους στην Ελλάδα
Translated title:
Validating the Measurement of the Non-Prescribed Use of Psychotropic Medications in School Population Surveys ― A Mixed Method Approach
Summary:
Background: Research shows increases in non-prescribed use of prescription
drugs in adolescents. Effective policy responses require valid measurement of
this behaviour. Aim: To validate student reports on non-prescribed use of
opioid analgesics, tranquilisers and sedatives collected through
self-completion questionnaires in cross-sectional school surveys. Methods: The
study employed a mixed quantitative (questionnaires administered in school
involving 890 students aged 16-18) and qualitative approach (respondent
debriefing). Data were collected on three indicators: content and response
process, internal structure, and empirical validity. Inferential statistics
were used for the quantitative data (Pearson chi-square or McNemar’s test, uni-
and multivariable logistic regression analysis, estimates of Cohen's κ, Cramer’
s V, and Spearman’s rho) and the framework approach was used for the analysis
of the qualitative data. Results: Data suggest a valid measurement of
tranquiliser / sedative use, but low quality of measurement of opioid
analgesics use. Survey respondents seemed to confuse opioid with OTC
analgesics. Study participants framed non-prescribed use as the excessive use
or abuse of a prescription drug with the aim to self-medicate rather than to
seek sensation. Evidence from the multivariate analyses verified the
self-medication hypothesis: illicit substance use showed no independent
associations with non-prescribed use. The study proposes measures for better
measurement.
Keywords:
Non-prescribed use, Opioid analgesics, Tranquilisers/sedatives, Validation study, Adolescents
Number of index pages:
17-19
Number of references:
240
