Specific teaching about doping in sport helps medical students to meet prevention needs

To assess medical students’ knowledge and training requirements in relation to doping in sport and to investigate their attitudes on doping prevention. Prospective study based upon the comparison of two randomised groups: experimental group (A) benefiting of a specific educational intervention (role-playing games) on doping in sport and control group (B). Training requirements, knowledge and attitudes were assessed by questionnaires at the beginning (T0) and the end (T1) of the training and 1year later (T2). A total of 58 students participated to the study at T0 and T1 (A=31; B=27) and 52 at T2 (A=28; B=24). Even 88% felt that they have a role to play in the prevention of doping in sport, 91% felt that the vocational training scheme did not deliver accurate formation for such a role. After the training, knowledge is improved (T1 and T2) for both groups especially regarding to the French law against doping and the ability to access to the list of prohibited substances. Role playing games are effective in improving medical students’ attitude in doping issues and its prevention with a higher level of confidence of group A at T1 (P