Using coffee to compensate for poor sleep: Impact on vigilance and implications for workplace performance

Coffee Consumption during the COVID Pandemic in a Portuguese Sample: An Online Exploratory Study

BACKGROUND

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages worldwide and is part of the Portuguese lifestyles. This study aims to describe coffee consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, the change in consumption, the relation between work and familiar pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic and coffee consumption, and the reasons for this consumption pattern.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study conducted by an online questionnaire (n = 463) between March and June 2020. During the data collection phase, information about coffee consumption and socio-demographic characteristics were gathered.

RESULTS

All respondents were and are coffee consumers. The coffee average intake before the COVID-19 pandemic was 2.40 ± 0.84 cups of coffee per day, and the average consumption during the COVID-19 confinement was 2.68 ± 0.88 cups. Consumption increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a correlation between the consumption changes and the familiar or work pressure was not found. The general reasons for the increase in the coffee consumption were "social/cultural" (27%), "the search for energy "boost"" (22.9%), "to feel awake" (22.7%), "to deal with stress" (22.7%) and "the taste" (21.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest the ever-increasing popularity of coffee consumption. Respondents also highlighted that some situations make them more prone to consume coffee consumption, such as when they face stress and the need to control tiredness. The COVID pandemic depleted a change in behaviors.

The effects of caffeine on marksmanship accuracy and reaction time: a systematic review

Military and law enforcement personnel are required to maintain optimal marksman accuracy and reaction time during extended duty hours amidst environmental stressors. Although caffeine is commonly used to mitigate the consequences of fatigue, the effects of caffeine on marksmanship accuracy are inconclusive. The purpose of this review was to determine the effect of caffeine on marksman accuracy and reaction time. A literature search was conducted and 17 articles were selected for review based on relevance and methodological quality. Caffeine consistently improved marksman reaction time but did not improve marksmanship accuracy. However, there is some evidence that caffeine attenuates performance decrements in marksman accuracy caused by stress and fatigue if optimal dosing strategies are employed. Dosing strategies timed according to hours of wakefulness and time before testing could prevent performance deterioration. Doses of 100-200 mg every 2 hours may effectively improve accuracy during extended duty; however, further research is needed. Practitioner Summary: The purpose of this review was to determine the effect of caffeine on marksman accuracy and reaction time. A literature search was conducted and 17 articles were selected for review based on relevance and methodological quality. Caffeine consistently improved marksman reaction time but did not improve marksmanship accuracy.