KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINK CONSUMPTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN KARACHI: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: A significant increase in consumption of caffeinated energy drink ( CED) despite its negative health risks has become a growing public health concern. The aggressive marketing of caffeinated energy drinks toward youth to enhance performance stems from a lack of regulatory oversight and surveillance.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the practices and knowledge regarding adverse health effects of Caffeinated energy drink among undergraduate medical students.

Material and Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out at Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College (FRPMC) from Feb 2024 to August 2024.Systematic random sampling method was employed. The sample size was determined to be 366 estimated through OpenEpi software. Data were collected using a validated, structured questionnaire administered via online Google Forms platforms. Data were entered, processed and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for analyses. Consumption, practices, level of knowledge, sources of information, and perceived adverse effects were assessed. Chi square test was applied to assess the significance among study variables. A multivariate logistic regression was applied to demonstrates the association between demographic characteristics and the practice of reading health warning labels on caffeinated energy drinks among participants.

Results: Among the 366 student, less than half of medical students 46.72% (n= 171/366) were ignorant about the adverse consequences of CED reported consumption of CED. Sixty one 61% (n= 226/366) of medical students do not read the health warning present on CED. A significant association was observed between ethnicity (p=0.022) and knowledge regarding the awareness of health warning on CED.

Conclusion: Since the knowledge regarding negative health consequences of CED among undergraduate medical students of Karachi during 2024 was found to be quite high. However the researcher wants to add that further longitudinal studies on this subject is needed to explore the practices regarding exact health consequences of CED. Further to this, there is still a need for implementation of policies at Federal, Provisional and local level to control the incorrect practices regarding excessive consumption of CED as the users do not need the health warning present on CED.