ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CAFFEINE, PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN MEDICAL STUDENTS: AN ANALYTICAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CAFFEINE, PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN MEDICAL STUDENTS: AN ANALYTICAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.515732514119
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Palavras-chave: Cafeína; Desempenho Acadêmico; Estudantes de Medicina; Faculdade de Medicina; Aprendizagem; Psicotrópicos.
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Keywords: Caffeine; Academic Performance; Medical Students; Medical School; Learning; Psychotropic Substances.
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Abstract: Coffee is widely consumed in Brazil and around the world, being a beverage of cultural, social, and economic importance. Its stimulating effect is attributed to caffeine, which blocks adenosine receptors and increases the release of neurotransmitters, promoting heightened alertness. Among medical students, coffee consumption is common due to the heavy study load and the need to maintain attention. This cross-sectional, quantitative, and analytical study investigated the relationship between coffee consumption and the use of psychoactive substances, as well as its impact on the academic performance of medical students. The study included 100 students from a medical school in southern Minas Gerais, with 25 students selected from each academic period (2nd to 5th), based on a similar curriculum that includes the courses SOI (Integrated Organic Systems), IESC (Teaching-Service-Community Integration), and HAM (Medical Skills and Attitudes). Data collection was conducted through in-person questionnaires after participants signed the Informed Consent Form (ICF). Data analysis was performed using the PRISMA platform, with descriptive statistics and inferential tests, adopting a significance level of p < 0.05. The results showed that 70% of participants consumed coffee regularly. Among students who did not consume coffee, no significant differences in academic performance were observed, regardless of the use of psychoactive substances. However, among students who drank coffee, those who used psychoactive substances had significantly lower semester averages compared to those who did not use such substances (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that caffeine consumption, regardless of the amount, does not directly affect academic performance, but when combined with the use of psychoactive substances, it has a significant negative impact on students' performance. The results highlight the need for attention to the concomitant use of psychoactive substances among university students and suggest that future investigations into the combined effects of coffee, psychoactive substances, and academic performance are essential.
- Luana Faria Dehon da Silva
- Rafael Adilson Santos Passos
- Andressa Silva Sousa