Caffeine Consumption Trends in Medical Students: A Survey Study

Summary:  View help for Summary Background: Caffeine consumption is a common strategy to enhance alertness, particularly among medical students managing intense academic demands. This study examines caffeine intake across different stages of medical training—first-year (M1), second-year (M2), and third-year (M3) medical students—to determine whether intake increases as students progress.Methods: A one-time, anonymous survey was distributed to medical students at a Southern California medical school. Students self-reported their average weekly intake of caffeinated beverages. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to compare total caffeine intake across groups.Results: A total of 122 students responded (M1: 54, M2: 45, M3: 22). Although third-year students reported a higher average intake, the ANOVA did not reveal a statistically significant difference in total caffeine consumption across groups (p = 0.0971). However, coffee intake was substantially higher among M3 students.Conclusions: While not statistically significant, the trend suggests increased caffeine consumption—particularly coffee—during the clinical years. This may reflect greater demands and stress during clerkships. Future research should explore strategies to address stress-induced caffeine use and promote healthier coping mechanisms among medical students.