Anti-Doping Knowledge, Attitudes and Experiences of General Practitioners and Pharmacists In Selected Counties in Kenya
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Date
2023
Authors
Kimtai, Rotich Jonathan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The Athletic support personnel (ASP) significantly influence athletes' attitudes, perceptions, and
use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). Among the ASP, General Practitioners and
Pharmacists play a substantial role in providing medical and pharmaceutical support to athletes.
Health practitioners are in a position to influence, advise, encourage or discourage the use of
PEDs to precarious athletes yearning to improve their performance beyond the limit. Nonetheless,
the decision of General Practitioners or Pharmacists to encourage or discourage the use of PEDs
depends on their knowledge, experience, and attitude toward doping. Therefore, this study aimed
to investigate General Practitioners’ and Pharmacists’ doping knowledge, attitudes, and
experience from seven purposely selected counties in Kenya and to examine if there were
significant differences in doping knowledge and attitude between General Practitioners and
Pharmacists in Kenya. A cross-sectional analytical study design was used to examine General
Practitioners’ and Pharmacists’ doping knowledge, attitudes, and experiences. A stratified
random sampling technique was used to select General Practitioners and Pharmacists from the
seven targeted counties. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data for the
study. Six hundred and fifteen practitioners (250 General Practitioners and 365 Pharmacists)
participated in the study. Of these, 151 (60.4%) male and 99 (39.6%) female were General
Practitioners, while 209 (57.3%) male and 156 (42.7) female were Pharmacists. Results
demonstrated that General Practitioners and Pharmacists in Kenya are well aware of WADA and
ADAK. General Practitioners and Pharmacists self-reported average to slightly above average
doping knowledge (47.77 ± 14.03 and 46.63 ± 13.36), respectively, where the average doping
knowledge was measured at 42.5. Mann-Whitney test results revealed no significant difference in
doping knowledge between General Practitioners and Pharmacists (p = .518). General
Practitioners and Pharmacists had a negative attitude towards doping (45.23 ± 13.64 and 47.28 ±
13.65), where a score of 59.5 and above implied being positive towards doping attitude. Mann
Whitney test showed a significant difference between General Practitioners and Pharmacists
towards doping attitude (p = .039). Male respondents demonstrated more doping knowledge,
49.04 ± 13.57, compared to the female respondents, 44.35 ± 13.29. Mann-Whitney test revealed
that gender significantly influenced respondents, doping knowledge (p = .006), and attitude
towards doping (p = .016). Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that age contributed to significant
difference in doping knowledge among Pharmacists (p = .024) but not with the General
Practitioners p = .024. Kruskal-Wallis analysis also indicated that work experience contributed
remarkable variation in doping knowledge among General Practitioners (p < .001) but not among
Pharmacists. In addition, age and work experience demonstrated (Kruskal Wallis test) significant
influence on the doping attitude of General Practitioners (p =.003) and (p = .008), but no
significant difference was identified among the Pharmacists, p =.301 and p = .063 respectively.
Pharmacists in Kenya were an essential source of doping and related information. As many as
155 (25.2%) General Practitioners and Pharmacists had been requested for doping information or
substances during their professional work. It was concluded that General Practitioners and
Pharmacists in Kenya have unreliable doping knowledge and negative attitudes towards doping.
Age significantly influenced the doping knowledge of General Practitioners and Pharmacists. A
considerable difference exists in the doping attitude between General Practitioners and
Pharmacists. The study recommended more anti-doping education, campaigns, and training that
start at the college level to address the low doping knowledge of younger practitioners. An
emphasis is needed to involve more female practitioners in anti-doping campaigns to ensure
doping knowledge across the board. A study involving all General Practitioners and Pharmacists
in Kenya is recommended to provide a comprehensive view of the current doping status in the
country.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted In Fulfillment of The
Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor Of
Philosophy in Recreation and Sports Management In The
School Of Business, Economics and Tourism, Kenyatta
University, July, 2023
Keywords
Anti-Doping Knowledge, Attitudes, Experiences, General Practitioners, Pharmacists, Selected Counties, Kenya