Introduction

Alcohol is a risk factor for several health conditions and accounts for more than three million deaths per year worldwide. The substance contributes to the development of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and cancer, as well as for acute conditions related to direct effects on the central nervous system. Despite this, its use is common practice among university students, including medical students.

Objectives

The objectives were (i) to develop a literature review to identify studies into the prevalence of alcohol use among students at Brazilian medical schools; and (ii) to analyze the estimates of prevalence according to medical course and school characteristics.

Method

Literature review developed to search publications in the (i) Latin American and Caribbean Center in Health Sciences Information (Lilacs) database, using the word combination [(estudantes de medicina AND álcool)] and in the US National Library of Medicine of National Institute of Health (Medline/Pubmed) database, using the word combination [(medical students AND alcohol AND Brazil)]. Alcohol use patterns in the past seven days, past thirty days, and past year were analyzed by plotting and visualization of point estimates and confidence intervals, as well as correlations.

Results

Fourteen studies were included in this review. Eight of them were developed in the southeast region. Most institutions were under public administration (n = 8), and were in state capitals (n = 8). The prevalence of alcohol use in the past seven days ranged from 23.0% to 46.5%, in the past thirty days ranged from 20.2% to 87.6%, and in the past year ranged from 79.3% to 92.9%. The correlations between prevalence and workload, and between prevalence and age of school showed a weak intensity on the three use patterns analyzed. The correlation directions followed diversified patterns. In the past seven days, the correlation directions were negative both with workload and age of the school. In the past thirty days, the correlation direction was negative with the workload, and positive with the age of the school. In the past year, the correlation direction was positive with workload, and negative with the age of the school.

Conclusions

Alcohol use is a recurring theme in Brazilian scientific literature and the estimates of prevalence of its use in the past seven days, in the past thirty days and in the past year are high among medical students. The influence of medical school and the medical course characteristics on the use of psychoactive substances requires more attention from the scientific community, and the involvement of the higher education institutions in controlling the alcohol problem in Brazil is fundamental.

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