Jonathan ROTİCH, Elıjah RINTAUGU, Edna THANGU

Anti-Doping Knowledge, Attitude, and Experience of General Practitioners in Kenya

General practitioners are regarded as athletic support personnel as they are involved in delivering supportive services such as treating athletes participating in or preparing for sports competitions. General practitioners play a vital role in influencing athletes to fulfill their mandate to adhere to clean sports and therefore, their additional knowledge in sports is required to comprehensively address their health needs without affecting the integrity of rules that govern fair play. General practitioners require sufficient doping knowledge to provide athletes with health needs consistent with anti-doping regulations. In Kenya, no studies have investigated or reported the doping knowledge, attitude or experience of General Practitioners, thus leaving a knowledge gap on their ability to treat competitive athletes harmonious with WADA requirements. Therefore, the study sought to unearth General Practitioners' doping knowledge, attitude, and experience in Kenya. The study's findings have implications on doping knowledge, attitude, and experience of Kenya General Practitioners’ essential to inform the current status of the concept. A cross-sectional analytical study design was selected because of its robustness in describing general practitioners' current doping knowledge, attitude, and experiences. Data was collected using a self-reported and validated questionnaire where 250 General practitioners completed the survey. Findings revealed that Kenyan general practitioners are well aware of doping regulatory agencies of WADA and ADAK. The findings demonstrated that General Practitioners had an average doping knowledge (47.77 ± 14.03) punctuated with limited knowledge of prohibited substances, methods, and substances in certain sports. Work experience significantly influenced General Practitioners knowledge, F (4,245) = 10.852, p< .001. General Practitioners had a negative doping attitude of 45.23 ± 13.64. As many as 22% (55) General Practitioners received doping requests for the last 12 months, where 35.7% (89) of requests are about drugs to aid recovery. Anabolic steroids, corticosteroids, and peptide hormones were among the most sought-after PEDs. General Practitioners in Kenya have inadequate doping knowledge, which could limit their efficacy in treating professional athletes in line with WADA guidelines. Additional anti-doping training could benefit them address this limitation. Although General Practitioners demonstrated a negative attitude, expanding their involvement through active participation in doping seminars, and programs can enhance their understanding of the doping concept necessary to develop and maintain a strong negative attitude.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Doping attitude, General practitioner, knowledge, Doping regulation in Kenya, Doping experience, Knowledge

Anti-Doping Knowledge, Attitude, and Experience of General Practitioners in Kenya

Keywords:

Doping attitude, General practitioner, Knowledge, Doping regulation in Kenya, Doping experience,

PDF

___

ADAK. (2021). Strategic plan 2020/21-2023/24. https://www.adak.or.ke/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DRAFT-ADAK-2020-2021-2023-2024-STRATEGIC-PLAN-2
ADAK. (2018). Intelligence and investigations – anti-doping agency of Kenya [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://www.adak.or.ke/intelligence-and-investigations/
Athletics Kenya. (2022, September 14). Athletics Kenya. Athletics Kenya. https://www.athleticskenya.or.ke/adak/
Antić, D. (2017). Evaluation of knowledge on doping in sports among Serbian general practitioners. Medicinskipregled, 70(1-2), 25-31.
Auersperger, I., Topič, M. D., Maver, P., Pušnik, V. K., Osredkar, J., &Lainščak, M. (2012). Doping awareness, views, and experience: a comparison between general practitioners and pharmacists. Wiener KlinischeWochenschrift, 124(1-2), 32-38.
Backhouse, S. H., & McKenna, J. (2011). Doping in sport: A review of medical practitioners’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs. International Journal of Drug Policy, 22(3), 198-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2011.03.002
Backhouse, S. H., Whitaker, L., Patterson, L., Erickson, K., & McKenna, J. (2016). Social psychology of doping in sport: A mixed studies narrative synthesis. World Anti-Doping Agency, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure.
Chebet, S. (2014). Evaluation of knowledge, attitudes and practices of doping among elite middle and long distance runners in Kenya. Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Chinen, T., Sasabuchi, Y., Kotani, K., & Yamaguchi, H. (2021). Gap between desired and self-determined roles of general practitioners: A multicentre questionnaire study in Japan. BMC Family Practice, 22(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-021-01512-x
Dikic, N., Ionescu, A., Dimitrova, D., Kostas, N., Ergen, E., & Suzic Lazic, J. (2008). Medical doctors and sport: Attitudes and experience in Balkan region. Journal of the Romanian Sports Medicine Society, 14, (Special Issue, The 15-th Sports Medicine Balkan Congress), p.1.
Dikic, N., McNamee, M., Günter, H., Markovic, S. S., &Vajgic, B. (2013). Sports physicians, ethics and antidoping governance: Between assistance and negligence. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(11), 701-704. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-091838
Domagała-Rodacka, R., Rodacki, T., Owczarek, D., Cibor, D., & Zagrodzki, P. (2018). Doping in sport: Attitude and professional experience among physicians in Poland. Folia Medica Cracoviensia, 58(3), 35-47. https://doi.org/10.24425/fmc.2018.125071
Donovan, R. J., Jalleh, G., & Gucciardi, D. F. (2014). Using the Sport Drug Control Model to review the social science research on doping and identify areas for future research. Report submitted to WADA Education Committee and Social Science Research Ad Hoc Sub-Committee.
Dorota, S. E., & Derman, W. (2016). Anti-doping knowledge and opinions of South African pharmacists and general practitioners. Journal of Sports Medicine & Doping Studies, 6(3), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0673.1000181
El-Hammadi, M., & Hunien, B. (2013). Exploring knowledge, attitudes and abuse concerning doping in sport among Syrian pharmacy students. Pharmacy, 1(2), 94-106. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy1020094
Erickson, K., McKenna, J., & Backhouse, S. H. (2015). A qualitative analysis of the factors that protect athletes against doping in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 16, 149-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.03.007
Folkerts, D., Loh, R., Petróczi, A., & Brueckner, S. (2021). The performance enhancement attitude scale (PEAS) reached ‘adulthood’: Lessons and recommendations from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 56, 1-16, Article 101999. https://doi.org/10.31236/osf.io/k6gye
Gucciardi, D. F., Jalleh, G., & Donovan, R. J. (2011). An examination of the Sport Drug Control Model with elite Australian athletes. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 14(6), 469-476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2011.03.009
Huang, G., & Basaria, S. (2018). Do anabolic-androgenic steroids have performance-enhancing effects in female athletes?. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 464, 56-64. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.mce.2017.07.010
Jaber, D., Bulatova, N., Suyagh, M., Yousef, A. M., & Wazaify, M. (2015). Knowledge, attitude and opinion of drug misuse and abuse by pharmacy students: A cross-sectional study in Jordan. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 14(8), 1501-1508. https://doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v14i8.25
Laure, P., Binsinger, C., & Lecerf, T. (2003). General practitioners and doping in sport: Attitudes and experience. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 37(4), 335-338. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.37.4.335
Lemettilä, M., Leppä, E., Pohjanoksa-Mäntylä, M., Simula, A., & Koskelo, J. (2021). Anti-doping knowledge and educational needs of Finnish pharmacists. Performance Enhancement & Health, 9(2), 100195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2021.100195
Mazanov, J., Backhouse, S., Connor, J., Hemphill, D., & Quirk, F. (2014). Athlete support personnel and anti‐doping: Knowledge, attitudes, and ethical stance. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24(5), 846-856. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12084
Nakajima, R., Onuma, N., Watanabe, F., & Kamei, M. (2020). Conditions and hardships related to pharmacists' provisions of anti-doping activities in Japan. International Journal of Sport and Health Science, 18, 172-179. https://doi.org/10.5432/ijshs.202023
Nenad, D., Anca, I., Diana, D., Kostas, N., Emin, E., & Jelena, S. (2007). Medical Doctors and doping in Sport: Attitudes and experience in Balkan Region. Balkan Sports Medicine Association, 12, 1-9. Retrieved from https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/final_report_dikic.pdf
Petróczi, A., & Aidman, E. (2009). Measuring explicit attitude toward doping: Review of the psychometric properties of the performance enhancement attitude scale. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10(3), 390-396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2008.11.001
Salih, M. R. M., & Abd, A. Y. (2021). Knowledge, attitude, and behaviour regarding doping in sports among physicians and pharmacists: A questionnaire-based study. Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Education & Research, 11(2), 29-35. https://doi.org/10.51847/TIT76VnUlP.
Sports Resolutions. (2019). Decision of the disciplinary tribunal. https://www.athleticsintegrity.org/downloads/pdfs/disciplinary-process/en/200717-World-Athletics-v-Kenneth-Kiprop-Kipkemoi-Decision.pdf
Starzak, D. E., Derman, W., McKune, A. J., &Semple, S. J. (2016). Anti-doping knowledge and opinions of South African pharmacists and general practitioners. Journal of Sports Medicine Doping Studies, 6(181), 2161-0673. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0673.1000181
Swiss Sport Integrity. (2022). The role of support personnel. The Role of Support Personnel. https://www.sportintegrity.ch/en/anti-doping/prevention/role-support-personnel
Thorsby, P. M., & Gjelstad, A. (2021). When the patient is an athlete. Tidsskrift for Den norskelegeforening, 141(7), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.21.0074
WADA. (2021, January 6). WADA launches new and improved anti-doping education and learning platform (ADEL). World Anti-Doping Agency. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/wada-launches-new-and-improved-anti-doping-education-and-learning-platform-adel
WADA. (2018). World anti-doping agency resource guide. Retrieved from httPharmacist://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/wada-2016-prohibited-list-en.pdf
Woods, C. B., & Moynihan, A. (2009). General practitioners knowledge, practice and training requirements in relation to doping in sport. Irish Medical Journal, 102(1), 8-10.
Yee, K. C., De Marco, M., Salahudeen, M. S., Peterson, G. M., Thomas, J., Naunton, M., & Kosari, S. (2020). Pharmacists as a source of advice on medication use for athletes. Pharmacy, 8(1), 1-6. Article 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy8010010