Coffee consumption and alertness: a study among office workers in Jakarta

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nutritional Science
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Office workers frequently consume coffee for caffeine's alertness-boosting effects.
• Alertness and reaction time are critical for productivity in white-collar jobs.
• This study investigated the impact of coffee on alertness in an office setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between coffee consumption and improved alertness among office workers.
• To determine if coffee intake influences reaction time as a measure of alertness.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study comparing coffee drinkers and non-drinkers.
• Alertness assessed using the Lakassidaya tool, with measurements at baseline and 30 minutes post-consumption.
• Coffee and caffeine intake quantified via a 7-day fluid diary.

Main Results:

• 121 office workers participated; 47.1% were coffee drinkers.
• Average daily coffee intake was 247 mL, with 72 mg caffeine, below typical alertness-triggering levels.
• No significant association found between coffee consumption and alertness (OR=1.538, p=0.403).
• No significant difference in reaction time changes between groups (p=0.111), though a trend towards faster reactions was observed in coffee drinkers.

Conclusions:

• Coffee consumption showed no significant association with improved alertness in Jakarta office workers.
• Despite a trend, significant improvements in reaction time were not demonstrated.
• Further research may be needed to explore the nuanced effects of coffee on alertness in this population.