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Abstract

Aims: The main aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence, attitude and magnitude of consumption of energy drinks among health science students, to establish the relationship between consumption of energy drinks and smoking and to determine the relationship between energy drinks consumption and the students� perceptions about their academic performance. Methodology: A cross-sectional study has been conducted, including 521 male health science college students in Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University throughout the period of September 20th to December 20th, 2014. A validated, confidential, selfadministered questionnaire including questions designed to estimate the prevalence, attitude and magnitude of consumption of energy drinks was used for data collection. Results: Among 521 male students, who participated in this study, 199 students were consuming energy drinks (38.2%). Students consumed energy drinks for many reasons, mostly they like the taste (59.8%). (50.3%) and (39.2%) perceive energy drinks to increase their alertness and academic performance, respectively. More than half of participants not manifest any side effect after consumption, and digestive tract upset was reported as the most frequent side effects. Conclusion: Energy drinks consumption is a common behaviour among male health science students. Heavy consumption of energy drinks can have some adverse effects including digestive tract upsets. Participants perceive energy drinks to increase their alertness and academic performance. However, people who consume these drinks are more likely to be alert compared to those who do not.

Biography

Saad Rashed AlQasem is a 6th year medical student at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University. During his medical study, he participated in different activities such as joining many volunteer groups and organized many campaigns and conferences. He got multiple prizes in the field of Health Science Research and Community Services at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University. He successfully published a research in PubMed titled “Prevalence of Wheat Allergy in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia”. He is now working on publishing his new research under the topic “A Cross-Sectional Study of the Relationship among Energy Drinks Consumption, Smoking and Academic Performance among Male Health Science Students”. Recently, he finished his training in Reproductive Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, US.

Email: binrashed2014@hotmail.com