Resident Northwell Health Flushing, New York, United States
Disclosure(s):
Frederick Zhang, DDS, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Abstract: Background and
Objectives: Medical residents often experience insufficient sleep, increasing their risk of sleep deprivation.1 To combat this, many turn to stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, and prescription medications. This study investigates stimulant use among oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) residents in the United States, aiming to identify usage patterns, risk factors for dependence, and correlations with training stages.
Methods: A 28-question anonymous online survey was distributed to residents in CODA-certified OMS programs. Program directors and coordinators were contacted via email to disseminate the survey to their residents. The survey gathered demographic data, usage patterns, and perceived stimulant effects. T-test analyses compared responses to identify differences in consumption patterns based on demographics, rotation, and call schedule. 105 responses were collected and analyzed.
Results: Our survey revealed that 86.7% of OMS residents use caffeine, 39.0% use nicotine, and 15.2% use prescription stimulants. Caffeine consumption was significantly higher on workdays compared to non-workdays (216 mg vs 125 mg, P = .00002). Residents on primary call also consumed more caffeine compared to those not taking primary call (324 mg vs 209 mg, P = .007). Alarmingly, 21.9% of residents consumed 400 mg or more of caffeine daily. While nicotine use also trended higher on workdays, the difference was not statistically significant (34 mg vs 21 mg, P = .36).
Discussion: This study demonstrates the pervasiveness of stimulant use among OMS residents, with primary call appearing as the most significant influencer of increased caffeine use. The prevalence of use raises concerns about potential dependence and long-term health consequences. The substantial proportion of residents consuming 400 mg or more of caffeine daily is particularly concerning, given the associated increased risks of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.2 Future research should explore mitigation strategies, including schedule optimization, improved sleep hygiene, and alternative fatigue management techniques.
References:
Ardizzone E, Lerchbaumer E, Heinzel JC, et al. Insomnia-A Systematic Review and Comparison of Medical Resident's Average Off-Call Sleep Times. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(5):4180.
Wikoff D, Welsh BT, Henderson R, et al. Systematic review of the potential adverse effects of caffeine consumption in healthy adults, pregnant women, adolescents, and children. Food Chem Toxicol. 2017;109(1):585-648.
