Oluwabusola Osimosu¹, Shree Lakshmi devi Singaravelu^2,, Vinayak Joshua³, Uche Amaefuna-Obasi¹, Fiyinfoluwa Ogunfile³, George Odiase³, Solomon Akiode³

Background: Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages to beat boredom and improve alertness. Though many studies have proved its cognitive effect, this study helps to understand the need for coffee intake and its different benefits and ill effects among faculty of medical school where teaching is a prime focus. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 30 faculty in a Caribbean Medical school. A questionnaire comprising five categories was developed to assess various aspects of coffee consumption. A mixed method study where quantitative and qualitative data were collected by closed and open-ended questionnaire. Sum, mean and average used for statistical analysis. Result: Faculty members at middle age consumed more coffee than younger faculty. The faculty members believed coffee consumption enhanced their alertness and cognition. There was difference in alertness scale before and after coffee consumption among the participants. The most frequent adverse effects were anxiety and palpitation. Few participants stopped coffee consumption to avoid these adverse effects. Participants noted that these adverse effects were exacerbated when consuming coffee with coke, cola and when dehydrated. Conclusion: Anxiety or loss of motivation will significantly affect the quality of teaching in a medical school. Though the faculty believed that coffee enhanced their performance many of them had subsequent adverse effects which could possibly hinder their performance. The faculty should be trained to adjust the level of coffee consumption to have low adverse effects and maintain an optimal performance in a medical school.

Caffeine, faculty, medical school, coffee