‫‪Names of participations:‬‬

‫ﺎح‬‫ﯾدﺑط‬‫ﻠﻲ ﺣﻣ‬‫ﻧب ﻋ‬ ‫ﯾ‬

‫•ز‬ ‫ﯾنﻣﺣﻣد‬ ‫ﻟﻣﻌ‬‫ﺑد ا‬‫ﺎء ﻋ‬‫ﯾﻣ‬‫•ﺷ‬
‫‪Prevalence of‬‬ ‫ﯾز‬
‫ﻠف ﻋز‬ ‫ﺛم ﺧ‬
‫ﯾ‬‫ﻧبﻣ‬ ‫ﯾ‬
‫•ز‬ ‫ﯾن‬ ‫ﻟد ﺣﺳ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫•اﺳراء ﺧ‬
‫‪Caffeine usage‬‬ ‫ﺎف‬ ‫ﺎ ﺻدام ﺧﺻ‬
‫ﺎﺿل ﺣﻣودي‬ ‫ﺎسﻓ‬
‫ﺎره رﺿ‬
‫ﺑ‬‫ﺎد ﻋ‬
‫•ﺳ‬
‫•ﺳﺟ‬
‫ﯾﻔﺔ ﺻﻛر‬ ‫ﻠ‬‫ﯾم ﺧ‬
‫ﯾوان‬
‫ﺑراھ‬
‫ﺎظم د‬
‫ﺎف ا‬‫ﯾ‬‫•اط‬
‫ﯾﺔ اﺣﻣدﻛ‬ ‫•ا‬
‫‪among medical‬‬ ‫ﺎﻣﻲ اﺣﻣد ﺣﺳن‬ ‫ﯾر ﺳ‬‫•ﺳد‬ ‫ﺎن‬‫ﻠﻣ‬‫ﯾد ﺳ‬‫ﯾد رﺷ‬ ‫ﯾﺔ در‬‫•ا‬
‫ﯾدﻣﺣﻣد‬‫•ﺳرﻣد اﺣﻣد ﺣﻣ‬ ‫ﯾدﺑدن‬‫ﯾﺔ اﻣﺟد ﺣﻣ‬ ‫•ا‬
‫‪students and their‬‬ ‫ﯾن‬ ‫ﺎھر ﺣﺳ‬‫•ﺳﻣر ﺳﻼم ط‬ ‫ﯾن ﺟوده‬ ‫ﯾن راﺿﻲ ﺣﺳ‬ ‫ﻧ‬‫ﺑ‬‫•‬
‫ﺎنﻣﺣﻣد‬ ‫ﻠﻣ‬‫•ﺷﮭد اﺣﻣد ﺳ‬ ‫ﺎنﻓؤادﻣﺣﻣدﻓرج‬ ‫ﯾﻣ‬‫ﺑ‬‫•‬
‫‪knowledge of it's‬‬ ‫ﺑد‬
‫ﺎزي ﻋ‬ ‫ﺎﻗد ﻏ‬
‫•ﺷﮭدﻧ‬ ‫ﯾد‬
‫ﺑ‬‫ﯾر ﻋ‬‫ﻠب زﻏ‬ ‫ﻟﻣط‬ ‫ﺑد ا‬‫ﯾدر ﻋ‬‫•ﺣ‬
‫ﺎس ﺷﻣﮫﻣراد‬ ‫ﺑ‬‫ﯾن ﻋ‬‫ﯾر‬‫•ﺷ‬ ‫ﺎﺳمﻧوﻓل‬ ‫ﯾن ﺟ‬ ‫ﯾﺟﺔ ﺣﺳ‬ ‫•ﺧد‬
‫‪benefits and side‬‬ ‫ﯾدي‬ ‫ﯾن ﺣﻣ‬ ‫ﯾﺔﻣﮭدي ﺣﺳ‬ ‫•رﻗ‬
‫‪effects in Baghdad‬‬
‫‪city 2024.‬‬
‫‪Supervised by:‬‬
‫‪Assist. prof. Dr. Nawar sahib khalil‬‬
Aims:
The objectives of the study are to:
I. Assess the prevalence of caffeine intake.
II. Identify the popular types of caffeinated
beverages consumed.
III. Investigate the primary reasons behind caffeine
consumption among medical students.
IV. Assess medical students' understanding of the
benefits , side effects , and withdrawal effects
associated with caffeine.
Introduction
• Caffeine, a widely used stimulant, is found in various
beverages and foods, with over 80% global consumption.
Common sources include coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy
drinks, and even chocolates and medications. Habitual
consumption is linked to improved cognitive performance.
While generally safe, excessive intake can lead to caffeinism,
which is characterised by restlessness, agitation, excitement,
incoherent , excited thoughts and speech, and insomnia.
Medical students often rely on caffeine to cope with workload
and stress. This study aims to assess caffeine consumption
patterns, types, reasons, and medical students' knowledge.
Methods

Study Tool and Data Collection :

• A cross-sectional online survey using Google Forms was conducted among first to
sixth-year students at Al-Iraqia University and Al-Mustansryia University, College of Medicine.
The survey was distributed through academic online platforms from January 23rd to 30th, 2024,
to investigate caffeine consumption patterns and general knowledge.

• Official Approval was obtained from AL-IRAQIA University, College of Medicine. To ensure
Confidentiality, the questionnaire form was anonymous, as well as the participants was ensured
that all collected data were used only for research purpose.
Results
Characteristics of participants:

A total of 507 students participated in the study, with 471 (93%) reporting consumption
of caffeine in any form, with female predominance (67.1%). Coffee was the most commonly
consumed caffeine product (60.4%), followed by tea (56.2%). The majority of students (61.3%)
consumed caffeine daily, with most consuming 1-3 cups per day, while a minority (7%) consumed
more than 3 cups. The primary reason for caffeine consumption was to stay awake (60.6%).
Furthermore, 66.3% of caffeine consumers reported an increase in consumption upon entering
medical school. Overall, students exhibited inadequate general knowledge about caffeine,
although better awareness was noted regarding side effects and withdrawal symptoms.
 Variable Description No. (% )

G rade First stage 12 (2.4%)

Table (1)
Distribution of study group according to grade
Second stage 73 (14.4%)

Third stage 53 (10.5%)

Fourth stage 339 (66.9%)

Table 1
Fifth stage 13 (2.6%)
most of the responders reported to be at
Sixth stage 17(3.4%)
fourth grade(66.9%).
Total 507 (100% )
Table (2)
Distribution of study group according to Variable Description No. (% )
gender.

G ender Male 167 (32.9%)

Table 2 Female 340 (67.1)

Female students were predominant
Total 507 (100% )
as(67.1%) vs (32.9%) male.
 Table (3) Caffeine products
Caffeine products No. of answers %

Table 3 Coffee and its 309 60.1

display the type of caffeine derivative
products consumed by students,as
Tea 292 56.8
coffee was the most
common 60.1%, followed by
tea,soft drinks, energy drinks and Energy drinks 60 11.7
others (56.8%,21.2%,11.7% and
7 %) respectively.
 Figure 1. Distribution of students according to their frequency of consumption

Daily W eekly A few times a month During exam period only

Idon't consume
4%

14%
The results in figure 1 show
that 311(61.3%) of students
consume caffeine
8%
daily,71(14%) consume it
during exam period only.

61%
13%
 Figure 2. Distribution of students according to their amount of caffeine consumption

1--3 3--7 M ore than 7 IDon't consume it daily

The results in figure 2

show that 289(57%) of 34%
students consume 1-3 cup
daily, with a minority of
students who consume more
than 3,174 (34.3%) of
students don’t consume it
daily. 57%

2%

7%
 FIG U R E (2): SH O W ING TH E PR EV IO U S U SE O F CIG AR ETTES AM O NG VAPE SM O KERS.

have tried smoking cigarettes before vaping have not tried smoking cigarettes before vaping

20%

•Among the vape smoker,

80.1% have tried smoking
cigarettes before, and
80.9% have an active use
of other types of smoking
(cigarettes and hookah),
where 33.3% used only
cigarettes,33.3% used only
hookah and 33.3% have 80%

used both, as shown in

figure (2), (3), (4).
FIG U RE (4): SH O W ING TH E TYPE O F TO BACCO U SED ACTIV ELY FIG U RE (3) SH O W ING TH E ACTIV E U SE O F O TH ER TYPES O F
AM O NG VAPE SM O KERS TO BACCO AM O NG VAPE SM O KERS.
only hookah only cigarette cigarette and hookah active use of other types of tobacco no active use of other types of tobacco

19%

33% 33%

33%
81%
The reasons for caffeine consumption listed in table 3. “To stay awake” was the top most reason
mention by 307 (60.6% ) of caffeine consumer students.

Table 3. Distribution of students according to the reported reason of caffeine consumption

Table -4 demonstrates the knowledge of the participated students about benefits,side effects and withdrawal
symptoms of caffeine. Concerning the benefits of caffeine,the majority of the students enrolled in the study were
correctly identified the role of caffeine in increase attention and enhancing general performance.
It is noteworthy that only 20.7% of study participants had correct knowledge that caffeine prevent type 2 DM.When
the side effects of caffeine was determined, Majority of students correctly identified the common side effects of
caffeine consumption, with a minority who correctly identified the unusual symptoms .
Furthermore most of the participants were able to recognize that fatigue and drowsiness among the withdrawal
symptoms of caffeine .

Table 4. No of answers regarding benefits, side effects, and withdrawal symptoms

 Table (2): showing types of vape products used among vape smokers
Type of vape Type of tank/ number /
Number percentage
• In regards type of vape product percentage
product, 71.4% of the smoker Bod mode 15 71.4% -
have used Bod mode, with Regular 7 53.8%
61.9% have used mode& tank Mode & tank 13 61.9%
Sub ohm 5 46.1%
(type of tanks used are regular Vape pen 5 23.8% -
(53.8%) and sub ohm (46.1%)),
and 23.8% have used vape pen
(cigarlike), where the majority
of vape smoker have used
more than one type of vape
product, which lead to these
results, as shown in table (2).
 Measures used
Amount of
for estimation Number of
puffs or ml percentages Average use
smoking people
used
consumption
150 puffs 1 4.76%
100-150 puffs 1 4.76%
100 puffs 2 9.52%
puffs 50 puffs 3 14.28% 56 puffs
30 puffs 3 14.28%
•61.9% of vape smokers 20-30 puffs 1 4.76%
answered their use of vape 20 puffs 2 9.52%
smoking as puffs with total - 13 61.90%
average of (56 puffs) per 10 ml 1 4.76%
day. While others (28.5%) 5-10 ml 1 4.76%
milliliters 5 ml 2 9.52% 6.3 ml
answered as milliliter with 4 ml 1 4.76%
average of 6.3 ml per day, Table2(3):
mlshowing average consumption
1 4.76%among vape smokers.
of vape products
and 9.5% doesn’t know how total - 6 28.57%
much they have smoked, as Don’t know how
shown in tables (3). much they - 2 9.52% -
smoke
 Figure (5) continious use of vape among vape
smokers.

•The majority (52.3%)

consume 3mg of nicotine 4

per day, with a variable

continuous use of vape as 3

shown in the figure (5) and

variable value in how often 2

they have smoked vape in

figure (6). 1

0
5 years 4 years 3 years 2 years 1 year 3 month 2 months 1 month
 Firgure (6) showing how often vape smokers smoke again.
8

0
30 minute one hour 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours 2 days one week 2 weeks 4 month
 FIG U RE (7): SH O W ING TH E INTENTIO N O F STO P U SING VAPE SM O KING AM O NG VAPE
SM O KERS.

24%

38%

•61.9% of vape smokers

have the intention to stop
smoking, whereas 38 %
have tried to stop vape
smoking during the last
year, as shown in figure (7).

38%

don’t have intention to stop vape smoking have not tried to stop vape smoking during the last year
Social and FIG U RE (8): SH O W ING H O W VAPE SM O KERS INTRO DU CED INTO VAPE PRO DU CTS.

environmental
4%

effect:
24%

•71.4% of vape smokers

have been introduced to by friends
by both internets and friends

vaping by their friends, by internet

23.8% from both internet

and friends, and only 4.7%
from internet only, as shown
in figure (8).
72%
 FIG U RE (9): SH O W ING PATTERNS O F U SING VAPE PRO DU CTS.

14%

•28.5% have another

smoke mostly with their friends
member of the family smoke both alone and with
friends
smoking, while 100% have smoke alone

their friends smoking also. 29% 57%

Where 57.1% of smoker
smoke mostly with their
smoker friends, 28.5%
smoke both alone and with
their friends, and only
14.2% are smoking alone, as
shown in figure (9).
Conclusion
• In this study, we had found that most of the students where
non vape smoker (78.6%), while vape smokers made only
(21.4%) of the sample with the majority of them were smoking
both vapes and other tobacco products. with 100% of the
smokers being male, where males had significantly higher
knowledge rates about vape products and its effect compared to
females. We also identify some factors that may affect the
prevalence and use of vape smoking: having friends or family
members that also smoke, socioeconomic state of the students
also effects the consumption of vape products and its use.
 Conclusion

. Caffeine is a commonly used stimulant to combat fatigue and improve

cognitive function. Our research findings indicate that a considerable
number of medical students relied on coffee as their primary source of
caffeine to cope with the stress of medical school, generally consuming it
within a safe limit. The students possess a moderate understanding of
the benefits of caffeine, while demonstrating a more comprehensive
comprehension of its side effects and withdrawal symptoms.