CAFFEINE INTAKE AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PARTICIPATING IN SHIFT WORK

Abstract

Objective: To investigate caffeine consumption among law enforcement officers during day shifts (DAY) and night shifts (NIGHT); to assess the types of caffeine-containing products and the frequency of product intake during DAY and NIGHT; to identify relationships between caffeine products and selected demographic characteristics; to identify relationships between caffeine intake and job-related characteristics.; and to identify associative relationships between caffeine intake and perceived concentration level, caffeine side effects, and tobacco use. Participants: Police officers (PO) and Sheriff Department Deputies (SDD) in a rural region in Eastern North Carolina. Useable sample of 75 (N = 75). Methods: Anonymous, self-administered caffeine food-frequency questionnaires (FFQ; three for DAY, three for NIGHT) and demographic questionnaire. Nonparametric tests were used. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare related samples. Spearman's correlation was used to determine relationships between two samples. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare two independent samples. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare more than two independent samples. Results: Caffeine consumption was similar from DAY to NIGHT (225 + 227mg DAY; 252 + 232 mg NIGHT; p=0.891). Frequency of tea intake was greater during DAY (p=0.032). Greater caffeine consumption was found among (1) SDD versus PO; (2) expert officers (for night only); (3) lower concentration levels (for night only); (4) tobacco users; (5) those who experience caffeine side effects. In addition, younger officers consumed more energy drinks DAY and NIGHT. Conclusions: It was found that certain job-related characteristics influence caffeine intake, but types of products used and frequency of intake tends to be the same regardless of shift or caffeine side effects. Energy drinks were found to be most popular among younger officers. Tobacco use and caffeine intake were found to have a correlate relationship. Caffeine may aid alertness, especially at night. Further research is needed to assess other areas of shiftwork, more caffeine-containing products, especially energy drinks, and psychological or behavioral aspects of caffeine intake and product choice among shift workers. Limitations, gaps in the literature and implications are discussed.