An examination of performance enhancement attitudes and belief levels regarding sports supplements among students receiving education on ergogenic aids and anti-doping practices

Background: This study examines the changes in performance enhancement attitudes and sports supplement belief levels among sports sciences faculty students after education on ergogenic aids and anti-doping practices. In the highly competitive environment of modern sports, nutrition and ergogenic aids are crucial in enhancing athletic performance and preventing injuries. However, research in this area is limited, and existing literature emphasizes the need to explore the relationship between education and these topics. Methods: The study employed an experimental design using a one-group pre-test and post-test method. The research group comprised 61 students (24 female and 37 male) from the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Bayburt University. Data collection tools included the “Personal Information Form,” the “Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale (PEAS),” and the “Sports Supplement Belief Scale (SSBS).” Data were collected via Google Forms and analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software. The skewness and kurtosis values were calculated to assess the data distribution, and parametric tests, including t-tests and ANOVA, were applied. Results: The findings revealed that education on ergogenic aids and anti-doping practices significantly improved students’ performance-enhancement attitudes. For example, PEAS scores increased from a pre-test mean of 38.74 to a post-test mean of 44.13 (p < 0.05), representing a change of approximately 13.91%. However, no significant changes were observed in SSBS scores. This suggests that students’ beliefs regarding sports supplements may be shaped by prior knowledge and experiences, making them less influenced by the educational intervention. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that education on ergogenic aids and anti-doping practices can positively influence students’ performance-enhancement attitudes. However, more in-depth educational programs may be required to impact beliefs about sports supplements. These findings can guide the development of more effective educational programs to enhance athletic performance and safeguard athlete health. By providing evidence-based insights, this study significantly contributes to the existing literature and supports the development of policies and educational initiatives in anti-doping and athlete education.