Simon Perikles, Striegel Heiko, Aust Fabian, Dietz Klaus, Ulrich Rolf
University of Tuebingen, Department of Sports Medicine, General Internal Medicine V, Tuebingen, Germany.
Addiction. 2006 Nov;101(11):1640-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01568.x.
Recent studies have suggested that the use of doping substances and particularly of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) is often practised by fitness centre visitors. These studies employed direct interview techniques and questionnaires to assess the estimated number of unreported cases of doping. Because people hesitate to provide compromising information about themselves, these techniques are subject to response errors. In this study we applied an alternative interview technique to assess more accurately unreported cases of doping in fitness centres.
The present investigation employed the randomized response technique (RRT) to reduce response errors. A cohort of 500 people from 49 fitness centres participated in this study.
The RRT revealed a high prevalence of doping (12.5%). In addition, and most importantly, the present RRT study revealed an alarmingly high prevalence of illicit drug use, specifically of cocaine use, that has been severely underestimated by previous studies.
The RRT confirmed previously estimated rates of AAS use assessed by direct interview techniques and voluntary questionnaires, but uncovered a much higher usage rate of illicit drugs among fitness centre visitors. This outcome enabled us to construct a 'probability' rating for the use of doping substances in fitness centre visitors. Given its high prevalence and the predominant use of AAS, doping among fitness centre visitors is an issue of extreme relevance for the health care system. Our study may help to characterize further doping substance users and to develop and apply prevention and intervention programmes specifically to individuals at high risk.
近期研究表明，健身中心的访客经常使用兴奋剂，尤其是合成代谢雄激素类固醇（AAS）。这些研究采用直接访谈技术和问卷调查来评估未报告的兴奋剂使用案例数量。由于人们不愿提供对自己不利的信息，这些技术容易出现回答误差。在本研究中，我们应用了另一种访谈技术，以更准确地评估健身中心未报告的兴奋剂使用案例。
本调查采用随机应答技术（RRT）来减少回答误差。来自49个健身中心的500人参与了本研究。
随机应答技术显示兴奋剂使用率很高（12.5%）。此外，也是最重要的，目前的随机应答技术研究揭示了非法药物使用，特别是可卡因使用的惊人高发生率，而此前的研究严重低估了这一情况。
随机应答技术证实了之前通过直接访谈技术和自愿问卷调查评估的合成代谢雄激素类固醇使用率，但发现健身中心访客中非法药物的使用率要高得多。这一结果使我们能够构建一个健身中心访客使用兴奋剂物质的“概率”评级。鉴于其高发生率以及合成代谢雄激素类固醇的主要使用情况，健身中心访客中的兴奋剂使用问题对医疗保健系统极为重要。我们的研究可能有助于进一步刻画兴奋剂使用者的特征，并专门针对高危个体制定和应用预防及干预方案。
