Caffeine consumption and its effect among medical students in Anbar, Iraq

Background: Caffeine consumption is considered a global issue, and the prevalence of caffeine consumption has dramatically increased among young adults. Objectives: To assess the frequency of caffeine consumption, its sources, attitudes, and adverse effects among medical students in Fallujah and Anbar Universities in the west of Iraq. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, and a convenience sample was used to choose medical students from Anbar and Fallujah universities in the Anbar district in June 2022. The questionnaire consisted of questions about social characteristics such as age, gender, academic study level, and caffeine consumption-related questions. Results: Out of the total (415), female students comprised 63.1% of the participants. The findings revealed that 34% of the participants consumed a caffeinated beverage once a day, 40% drank two to three times a day, 15.4% consumed caffeine once a week, and 57.6% had at least one cup each time. There was no statistically significant association between the adverse effects of caffeine and gender and the frequency of caffeine intake. Conclusion: The findings of the current study reveal that caffeine consumption is common among medical students in the Anbar district.