A cross-sectional study: caffeine consumption and their perception among pharmacy students

Abstract

Background: The consumption of caffeine is highly prevalent among university students. Previous research studies have significantly shown that university students have a different perception of caffeine’s effect on their mental and physical health. These perceptions can influence caffeine consumption, which can result in addiction and serious public health consequences. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of studies that explored better knowledge concerning the consumption and perception of caffeine among undergraduate pharmacy students. Aim: This study aimed to determine the frequency of caffeine consumption and their perception focusing on (1) specific reasons for consuming caffeine (2) the association between the sociodemographic and overall caffeine intake. Method: A validated online questionnaire that was adopted from a previous study was conducted at three different universities (UiTM Puncak Alam, KPJ Healthcare University College, and the University of Brunei Darussalam). A set of questionnaires was distributed via electronic mail (e-mail) and WhatsApp to the convenience sample of pharmacy students (n=260). Descriptive statistics and Pearson Chi-square tests analyses were conducted. Results: Results from the study indicate that pharmacy students consume a caffeinated drink an average of one time daily. The main reason for the intake is to feel more awake (69.2%), especially during exam seasons (79%). There was a significant association between the source of income and caffeine consumption (p=0.033). In the perception category, “Mixing caffeine with alcohol is very dangerous’ and “consuming too much caffeine is unhealthy” received the highest agreement (mean= 4.19 and mean=4.18 respectively). Conclusion: Pharmacy students acquired good caffeine consumption and perception. There is no caffeine addiction issues found in this study