Pub Date : 2025-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2025.100318
Gregg Twietmeyer
What makes a good coach? How should insights garnered in neuroscience affect coaching, if at all? Does the neuroethics of coaching have purchase? In a book chapter for Robert Simon's anthology “The Ethics of Coaching Sports”, Jeff Fry (2013) argues that, “we stand at the threshold of another scientific revolution” (p. 151). This new revolution is born of our ever-growing understanding of the human brain. According to Fry, it is clear, to those with eyes to see, or should I say those with neurons that fire, that neuroscience deeply impacts our daily lives, including the world of sport. In this paper I take issue with Fry's assertions. In fact, there is no reason to posit that the brain is the person. Brains are a part of the person not the whole person. Changes in the brain always occur in the context of a human life. These changes are personal not merely cerebral. As such, coaches need to be experts in people, not brains.
{"title":"The plastic person: A response to Fry","authors":"Gregg Twietmeyer","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2025.100318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peh.2025.100318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>What makes a good coach? How should insights garnered in neuroscience affect coaching, if at all? Does the neuroethics of coaching have purchase? In a book chapter for Robert Simon's anthology “The Ethics of Coaching Sports”, Jeff Fry (2013) argues that, “we stand at the threshold of another scientific revolution” (p. 151). This new revolution is born of our ever-growing understanding of the human brain. According to Fry, it is clear, to those with eyes to see, or should I say those with neurons that fire, that neuroscience deeply impacts our daily lives, including the world of sport. In this paper I take issue with Fry's assertions. In fact, <em>there is no reason to posit that the brain is the person</em>. Brains are a part of the person not the whole person. Changes in the brain always occur in the context of a <em>human life</em>. These changes are personal not merely cerebral. As such, coaches need to be experts in people, not brains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"13 2","pages":"Article 100318"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143529808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2025.100319
Jason Kreutz , Michael Potemkin , Harshil Shah , David Lam , Parth Patel , Patricia K. Doyle-Baker
Background
Non-medical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use poses numerous short and long-term health concerns. Literature has explored the interaction between AAS users and family physicians (FPs); however, there remains a paucity of studies exploring this in the context of the Canadian healthcare system. Further, discussions regarding anabolic steroids online have evolved in recent years with the rise of new social media platforms and information sources, warranting further investigation.
Methods
Participants were recruited through both purposive (professional networks, social media) and snowball sampling (in-person at the gym). Thirteen semi-structured interviews (seven AAS users and six FPs) were digitally conducted and inductively analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results
Four key themes emerged from the anabolic steroid user interviews: 1) AAS Culture Influences Community Connections, Self-Perceptions, and Welcomes New Members 2) Social Media's Evolving Influence on AAS Use Patterns, Culture, and Misinformation 3) Alternative Sources of AAS Information are Typically Consulted Instead of FPs, and 4) The Stigma of AAS Use Disclosure with FPs. Additionally, a fear of legal consequences served as a barrier to users accessing primary care.
Conclusion
A lack of dedicated resources and specialized medical training on anabolic steroid use currently exists. Both AAS users and FPs agreed that social media has become increasingly influential in the culture surrounding anabolic steroid use. Misinformation was observed regarding anabolic steroid use and this has become a considerable barrier exacerbated by mistrust of healthcare professionals. AAS users continue to feel stigmatized by the healthcare system, perpetuating the siloed nature of this community. Future physician training should focus on trust building and education through a harm-reduction lens.
{"title":"A qualitative exploration of family physicians and people who use anabolic steroids: Barriers to accessing evidence-based care","authors":"Jason Kreutz , Michael Potemkin , Harshil Shah , David Lam , Parth Patel , Patricia K. Doyle-Baker","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2025.100319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peh.2025.100319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Non-medical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use poses numerous short and long-term health concerns. Literature has explored the interaction between AAS users and family physicians (FPs); however, there remains a paucity of studies exploring this in the context of the Canadian healthcare system. Further, discussions regarding anabolic steroids online have evolved in recent years with the rise of new social media platforms and information sources, warranting further investigation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Participants were recruited through both purposive (professional networks, social media) and snowball sampling (in-person at the gym). Thirteen semi-structured interviews (seven AAS users and six FPs) were digitally conducted and inductively analyzed using thematic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Four key themes emerged from the anabolic steroid user interviews: 1) AAS Culture Influences Community Connections, Self-Perceptions, and Welcomes New Members 2) Social Media's Evolving Influence on AAS Use Patterns, Culture, and Misinformation 3) Alternative Sources of AAS Information are Typically Consulted Instead of FPs, and 4) The Stigma of AAS Use Disclosure with FPs. Additionally, a fear of legal consequences served as a barrier to users accessing primary care.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>A lack of dedicated resources and specialized medical training on anabolic steroid use currently exists. Both AAS users and FPs agreed that social media has become increasingly influential in the culture surrounding anabolic steroid use. Misinformation was observed regarding anabolic steroid use and this has become a considerable barrier exacerbated by mistrust of healthcare professionals. AAS users continue to feel stigmatized by the healthcare system, perpetuating the siloed nature of this community. Future physician training should focus on trust building and education through a harm-reduction lens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"13 2","pages":"Article 100319"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143519026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-22DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2024.100309
Philip Hurst , Maria Kavussanu , Mariya Yukhymenko-Lescroart , Vassilis Barkoukis , Fabio Lucidi , Enrico Rubaltelli , Antonis Hatzigeorgiadis , Christopher Ring
In the past twenty years, a large body of research has examined who is more likely to dope as a function of participant variables, such as gender, sport type, and competition level. However, this research is limited as studies are often conducted on modest sample sizes from one country. To overcome this issue, we recruited a large sample of athletes across three countries to examine differences in doping likelihood as a function of participant variables. Athletes (N = 4,644) were recruited from Great Britain (n = 2,505), Greece (n = 1,044), and Italy (n = 1,095) and asked to complete an anonymous measure of doping likelihood. Results indicated that doping likelihood scores were greater in men than women, for athletes competing in non-Olympic sports (e.g., American football, kickboxing, netball) than Olympic sports (e.g., Athletics, basketball, football) and in British athletes than both Greek and Italian athletes. We found an interaction between country and competitive level. Specifically, in Great Britain, higher competitive level athletes reported greater doping likelihood than lower competitive level athletes, which was not found for Greek and Italian athletes. Our results highlight that athletes report greater doping likelihood for those that are 1) from Great Britain, 2) men, and 3) participating in non-Olympic sports. We also show that differences in doping likelihood between competition levels may differ depending on country of residence.
{"title":"Athletes from Great Britain report greater doping likelihood than Greek and Italian athletes: A cross-sectional survey of over 4,000 athletes","authors":"Philip Hurst , Maria Kavussanu , Mariya Yukhymenko-Lescroart , Vassilis Barkoukis , Fabio Lucidi , Enrico Rubaltelli , Antonis Hatzigeorgiadis , Christopher Ring","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the past twenty years, a large body of research has examined who is more likely to dope as a function of participant variables, such as gender, sport type, and competition level. However, this research is limited as studies are often conducted on modest sample sizes from one country. To overcome this issue, we recruited a large sample of athletes across three countries to examine differences in doping likelihood as a function of participant variables. Athletes (<em>N</em> = 4,644) were recruited from Great Britain (<em>n</em> = 2,505), Greece (<em>n</em> = 1,044), and Italy (<em>n</em> = 1,095) and asked to complete an anonymous measure of doping likelihood. Results indicated that doping likelihood scores were greater in men than women, for athletes competing in non-Olympic sports (e.g., American football, kickboxing, netball) than Olympic sports (e.g., Athletics, basketball, football) and in British athletes than both Greek and Italian athletes. We found an interaction between country and competitive level. Specifically, in Great Britain, higher competitive level athletes reported greater doping likelihood than lower competitive level athletes, which was not found for Greek and Italian athletes. Our results highlight that athletes report greater doping likelihood for those that are 1) from Great Britain, 2) men, and 3) participating in non-Olympic sports. We also show that differences in doping likelihood between competition levels may differ depending on country of residence<em>.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"13 2","pages":"Article 100309"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143548391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-13DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2024.100313
G. Daroglou , L. Skoufa , V. Barkoukis , A. Loukovitis
Objectives
The need to combat sport corruption is increasingly growing. The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a university course aiming to increase knowledge regarding key sport integrity issues in pre-service coaches, covering sport integrity issues such as match-fixing, doping and whistleblowing.
Methods
Participants were 39 pre-service coaches who underwent a 13-session course involving issues like corruption, good governance, doping, match-fixing, and whistleblowing. The course comprised of interactive lectures combined with practical activities. For the assessment of the courses’ effectiveness participants completed questionnaires pre- and post-course and underwent interviews.
Results
Post-course, coaches exhibited significant improvement in understanding ethics and integrity in sports, especially in corruption and mechanisms for upholding clean sports. In addition, there was an increase in their readiness to address sport irregularities. Nevertheless, there was no observed significant change in attitudes towards the course. There was a positive evaluation for the user-friendliness of the course, and qualitative feedback supported its impact on enhancing knowledge and commitment to sports integrity.
Conclusion
The results of the study underline the potential of a university course in promoting sport integrity among pre-service coaches. In addition, they suggest the need for more interactive and sport-specific approaches in future endeavors.
{"title":"Evaluation of a sports integrity course for university students","authors":"G. Daroglou , L. Skoufa , V. Barkoukis , A. Loukovitis","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100313","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100313","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The need to combat sport corruption is increasingly growing. The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a university course aiming to increase knowledge regarding key sport integrity issues in pre-service coaches, covering sport integrity issues such as match-fixing, doping and whistleblowing.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Participants were 39 pre-service coaches who underwent a 13-session course involving issues like corruption, good governance, doping, match-fixing, and whistleblowing. The course comprised of interactive lectures combined with practical activities. For the assessment of the courses’ effectiveness participants completed questionnaires pre- and post-course and underwent interviews.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Post-course, coaches exhibited significant improvement in understanding ethics and integrity in sports, especially in corruption and mechanisms for upholding clean sports. In addition, there was an increase in their readiness to address sport irregularities. Nevertheless, there was no observed significant change in attitudes towards the course. There was a positive evaluation for the user-friendliness of the course, and qualitative feedback supported its impact on enhancing knowledge and commitment to sports integrity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The results of the study underline the potential of a university course in promoting sport integrity among pre-service coaches. In addition, they suggest the need for more interactive and sport-specific approaches in future endeavors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"13 2","pages":"Article 100313"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143526912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-11DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2024.100306
Andrew Richardson
{"title":"Further considerations and questions regarding the enhanced games","authors":"Andrew Richardson","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100306","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"13 2","pages":"Article 100306"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143548300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2024.100294
April Henning
The Enhanced Games (TEG) have drawn interest from sports organizations, athletes, media, fans, and academics since they were first announced as a possibility. TEG not only presents a shift in how enhancement is approached, but it also turns the entire logic of anti-doping on its head and adopts an approach intended to support enhanced athletes and reduce the risks they may otherwise face in sport. This change was why here I will both concur with Andrew Richardson's general view on harm reduction and challenge some of the points around risk, harm, and responsibility. Specifically, I argue that many of the risks posed to athletes result from anti-doping itself and that by shining a light on enhanced performance TEG are already doing more to reduce those harms than other sport interventions in recent decades.
{"title":"Risk, harm, and the enhanced games: Whose job is harm reduction?","authors":"April Henning","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Enhanced Games (TEG) have drawn interest from sports organizations, athletes, media, fans, and academics since they were first announced as a possibility. TEG not only presents a shift in how enhancement is approached, but it also turns the entire logic of anti-doping on its head and adopts an approach intended to support enhanced athletes and reduce the risks they may otherwise face in sport. This change was why here I will both concur with Andrew Richardson's general view on harm reduction and challenge some of the points around risk, harm, and responsibility. Specifically, I argue that many of the risks posed to athletes result from anti-doping itself and that by shining a light on enhanced performance TEG are already doing more to reduce those harms than other sport interventions in recent decades.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100294"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2024.100304
Andrew Richardson , Joseph Kean , Laura Fleming , James I. Hudson , Gen Kanayama , Harrison G. Pope Jr.
Background
Research from past decades has suggested that anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users are often sceptical of their physicians’ level of knowledge regarding AAS. We questioned whether contemporary British AAS users and non-AAS-using weightlifters would display similar distrust of their general practitioners.
Methods
We distributed anonymous questionnaires to 61 AAS-using and 106 non-AAS-using male British weightlifters at gymnasiums and via online social media sites. Respondents rated their general practitioners’ knowledge regarding health- and drug-related topics, using 10-point Likert scales from 0 (worst) to 10 (best). AAS users also rated their degree of trust in various sources of information about AAS, using similar scales, and were asked whether they had disclosed their AAS use to various categories of individuals. We then compared our findings with the results from a 2004 American study that had used virtually identical methodology.
Results
Both AAS-using and non-using weightlifters rated their general practitioners favourably on knowledge of general health and disease, cigarette smoking, and alcohol, with mean scores ranging from 6.8 to 8.7. However, respondents scored their general practitioners significantly lower on knowledge of AAS, with mean ratings of 4.3 to 4.9 from AAS non-users and only 2.4 to 2.9 from users. Among various sources of information about AAS, users trusted their doctors significantly less than “underground” guides or Internet sites. Only 22 (36 %) of the AAS users had ever disclosed their use of these drugs to any physician. These findings closely resembled those of the earlier American study, with contemporary British men reporting even greater mistrust of their physicians on weightlifting- and AAS-related topics than their American counterparts.
Conclusion
Despite increasing AAS use worldwide and mounting evidence of the long-term dangers of these drugs, contemporary British weightlifters in general and AAS users in particular appear to remain distrustful of their physicians’ knowledge of fitness sports, performance-enhancing supplements, and especially AAS.
{"title":"Attitudes of anabolic steroid users and non-users towards general practitioners in the United Kingdom","authors":"Andrew Richardson , Joseph Kean , Laura Fleming , James I. Hudson , Gen Kanayama , Harrison G. Pope Jr.","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100304","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100304","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Research from past decades has suggested that anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users are often sceptical of their physicians’ level of knowledge regarding AAS. We questioned whether contemporary British AAS users and non-AAS-using weightlifters would display similar distrust of their general practitioners.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We distributed anonymous questionnaires to 61 AAS-using and 106 non-AAS-using male British weightlifters at gymnasiums and via online social media sites. Respondents rated their general practitioners’ knowledge regarding health- and drug-related topics, using 10-point Likert scales from 0 (worst) to 10 (best). AAS users also rated their degree of trust in various sources of information about AAS, using similar scales, and were asked whether they had disclosed their AAS use to various categories of individuals. We then compared our findings with the results from a 2004 American study that had used virtually identical methodology.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both AAS-using and non-using weightlifters rated their general practitioners favourably on knowledge of general health and disease, cigarette smoking, and alcohol, with mean scores ranging from 6.8 to 8.7. However, respondents scored their general practitioners significantly lower on knowledge of AAS, with mean ratings of 4.3 to 4.9 from AAS non-users and only 2.4 to 2.9 from users. Among various sources of information about AAS, users trusted their doctors significantly less than “underground” guides or Internet sites. Only 22 (36 %) of the AAS users had ever disclosed their use of these drugs to any physician. These findings closely resembled those of the earlier American study, with contemporary British men reporting even greater mistrust of their physicians on weightlifting- and AAS-related topics than their American counterparts.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Despite increasing AAS use worldwide and mounting evidence of the long-term dangers of these drugs, contemporary British weightlifters in general and AAS users in particular appear to remain distrustful of their physicians’ knowledge of fitness sports, performance-enhancing supplements, and especially AAS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100304"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2024.100302
Maged Ossama Aly , Ayat Ashour , Nermin A. Osman , Doaa Tawfik
Background
Doping is a significant issue among athletes worldwide, not only during competitions but even more so in the preparation phase to boost their performance. Understanding athletes' attitudes toward doping is crucial for designing interventions that support anti-doping efforts.
Objectives
This study aims at validating an Arabic version of the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale (PEAS), thereby providing a valuable tool for further doping research in Arabic-speaking countries.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study using a predesigned interview questionnaire to collect general characteristics data from 200 adult athletes of both sexes recruited from different sports clubs in Alexandria, Egypt. The PEAS was translated to Arabic and then back to English to ensure accuracy. The reliability of the PEAS was measured by internal consistency and split-half reliability using Cronbach's α coefficient. Construct validity was determined by factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed an acceptable fit (X2 = 194.196, X2/df = 4.35, SRMR = 0.068, CFI = 0.92).
Results
The α coefficient for the Arabic version of the PEAS (17 items) was 0.872, indicating a high degree of internal consistency. The split-half reliability was 0.812.
Conclusions
The study results show that the Arabic version of the PEAS (17 items) is a valid and reliable instrument to assess attitudes toward doping among Arabic-speaking athletes.
{"title":"Validation of the Arabic version of the performance enhancement attitude scale (PEAS)","authors":"Maged Ossama Aly , Ayat Ashour , Nermin A. Osman , Doaa Tawfik","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Doping is a significant issue among athletes worldwide, not only during competitions but even more so in the preparation phase to boost their performance. Understanding athletes' attitudes toward doping is crucial for designing interventions that support anti-doping efforts.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aims at validating an Arabic version of the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale (PEAS), thereby providing a valuable tool for further doping research in Arabic-speaking countries.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This is a cross-sectional study using a predesigned interview questionnaire to collect general characteristics data from 200 adult athletes of both sexes recruited from different sports clubs in Alexandria, Egypt. The PEAS was translated to Arabic and then back to English to ensure accuracy. The reliability of the PEAS was measured by internal consistency and split-half reliability using Cronbach's α coefficient. Construct validity was determined by factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed an acceptable fit (X<sup>2</sup> = 194.196, X<sup>2</sup>/df = 4.35, SRMR = 0.068, CFI = 0.92).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The α coefficient for the Arabic version of the PEAS (17 items) was 0.872, indicating a high degree of internal consistency. The split-half reliability was 0.812.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The study results show that the Arabic version of the PEAS (17 items) is a valid and reliable instrument to assess attitudes toward doping among Arabic-speaking athletes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100302"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2024.100303
Mikey Hirst, Luke A. Turnock
Recently, there has been a sharp increase in advertising for the ‘prescription-only’ medicines semaglutide and testosterone on social media platforms in the UK, along with the ‘pharmacy medicine’ sexual enhancer Sildenafil. These promoted adverts appear to come from both legitimate clinics in the case of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and Sildenafil, and illicitly operating suppliers with the attempted appearance of legitimacy in the case of semaglutide. This commentary explores the extent to which the prevalent advertising of these lifestyle medicines on social media is normalising their use, and the potential harms associated with each.
For testosterone / TRT, we consider the over-medicalisation of men's general wellbeing concerns and potential harms relating to dependency if use is promoted and encouraged beyond medical need, paralleling prior observations for the sexual enhancer sildenafil. This is followed by an exploration of harms relating to black market semaglutide supply on social media to individuals who are often unaware they are not accessing legitimate pharmaceutical product, including the dangers of product contamination and substitution, as well as uninformed use linked to a lack of information on safe dosages provided by suppliers. Following these discussions, this commentary examines the potential harm reduction impacts that direct to consumer (DTC) supply of prescription medicines could have, and considers how policy could encourage these beneficial effects without further normalising or encouraging drug use in otherwise healthy individuals. However, we also note the importance of tackling prevailing cultural pressures towards lifestyle drug use and the need to address these through education and similar policies.
{"title":"Semaglutide, Testosterone and Sildenafil advertising on social media: The Normalisation of lifestyle enhancement drugs","authors":"Mikey Hirst, Luke A. Turnock","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100303","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100303","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recently, there has been a sharp increase in advertising for the ‘prescription-only’ medicines semaglutide and testosterone on social media platforms in the UK, along with the ‘pharmacy medicine’ sexual enhancer Sildenafil. These promoted adverts appear to come from both legitimate clinics in the case of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and Sildenafil, and illicitly operating suppliers with the attempted appearance of legitimacy in the case of semaglutide. This commentary explores the extent to which the prevalent advertising of these lifestyle medicines on social media is normalising their use, and the potential harms associated with each.</div><div>For testosterone / TRT, we consider the over-medicalisation of men's general wellbeing concerns and potential harms relating to dependency if use is promoted and encouraged beyond medical need, paralleling prior observations for the sexual enhancer sildenafil. This is followed by an exploration of harms relating to black market semaglutide supply on social media to individuals who are often unaware they are not accessing legitimate pharmaceutical product, including the dangers of product contamination and substitution, as well as uninformed use linked to a lack of information on safe dosages provided by suppliers. Following these discussions, this commentary examines the potential harm reduction impacts that direct to consumer (DTC) supply of prescription medicines could have, and considers how policy could encourage these beneficial effects without further normalising or encouraging drug use in otherwise healthy individuals. However, we also note the importance of tackling prevailing cultural pressures towards lifestyle drug use and the need to address these through education and similar policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100303"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2024.100288
Diederik L. Smit , Tijs Verdegaal , Peter Bond , Willem de Ronde
Non-medical androgen use is on the rise, with short-term side effects being well-documented whereas long-term consequences remain less understood but are likely to entail cardiovascular illness and permanent endocrine disruptions. Current educational initiatives are falling short in curbing this significant increase, signaling the need for a different approach. In this context, harm reduction emerges as a promising secondary prevention strategy. The key principles of the harm reduction approach outlined in this article emphasize educating individuals about side effects, limiting androgen use, and monitoring health closely. Successful implementation of this strategy hinges upon healthcare providers possessing expertise in the field, fostering non-judgmental interpersonal relationships, and securing cooperation of the athlete. The efficacy of this strategy will be rigorously evaluated in the HARNAS trial, comparing its outcomes with those of a historical control group. The findings from this trial are anticipated to be published in the coming years, shedding light on the effectiveness of this pioneering approach.
{"title":"Navigating non-medical androgen use: Towards a harm reduction paradigm","authors":"Diederik L. Smit , Tijs Verdegaal , Peter Bond , Willem de Ronde","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peh.2024.100288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Non-medical androgen use is on the rise, with short-term side effects being well-documented whereas long-term consequences remain less understood but are likely to entail cardiovascular illness and permanent endocrine disruptions. Current educational initiatives are falling short in curbing this significant increase, signaling the need for a different approach. In this context, harm reduction emerges as a promising secondary prevention strategy. The key principles of the harm reduction approach outlined in this article emphasize educating individuals about side effects, limiting androgen use, and monitoring health closely. Successful implementation of this strategy hinges upon healthcare providers possessing expertise in the field, fostering non-judgmental interpersonal relationships, and securing cooperation of the athlete. The efficacy of this strategy will be rigorously evaluated in the HARNAS trial, comparing its outcomes with those of a historical control group. The findings from this trial are anticipated to be published in the coming years, shedding light on the effectiveness of this pioneering approach.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100288"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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