Lakhasly

5.Evidence from Oman and the wider Gulf region supports the importance of investigating this behavior, while international studies provide additional information about sleep, academic demands, and health concerns.These studies indicate that energy drink consumption is relevant within the Gulf region.However, findings from other universities cannot automatically represent students at Oman College of Health Sciences (OCHS), because students may have different academic environments, schedules, knowledge levels, and health-related experiences.The caffeine and stimulant ingredients in these beverages may increase alertness, while excessive consumption has been associated in the literature with physiological and cardiovascular effects.Alafif et al. (2021) investigated energy drink consumption among university students in Saudi Arabia, while Faqeeh et al. (2025) examined energy drink use and associated factors among university students.Individual motivations, academic stress, sleep patterns, knowledge, peer influence, availability, and affordability may all contribute to students' consumption behaviors.If consumption is related to academic stress, inadequate sleep, limited knowledge, peer influence, or easy availability, the identified factors may guide future interventions.In conclusion, existing literature indicates that energy drink consumption is a relevant issue among university students and is influenced by individual, social, environmental, and knowledge-related factors.Studies from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have also reported considerable use among university populations.Mahmood et al. (2024) reviewed evidence related to energy drinks and cardiovascular effects, and Mandato et al. (2025) discussed cardiovascular considerations associated with energy drink consumption.These beverages may be available in supermarkets, shops, cafeterias, vending areas, and other locations around students' daily environments.Their schedules may involve lectures, examinations, assignments, and clinical responsibilities, which may affect stress, sleep, fatigue, and beverage choices.The proposed study addresses this gap by examining the prevalence and factors influencing energy drink consumption among OCHS students.Their consumption has become common among adolescents and university students because students may use them to remain awake, study for long periods, improve concentration, or manage academic demands.University life often involves examinations, assignments, clinical training, social activities, and irregular sleep patterns.In Oman, Khan (2019) reported energy drink consumption among university students and examined related behaviors and perceptions.Alshumrani et al. (2023) examined energy drink consumption and sleep-related factors among university students, supporting the importance of considering sleep when investigating consumption.Students may differ in their knowledge about caffeine, stimulant ingredients, recommended intake, and possible adverse effects of energy drinks.Since OCHS students are studying health-related subjects, examining their knowledge and consumption behaviors is particularly relevant to understanding whether health knowledge influences their choices.Therefore, environmental availability is an important factor to examine alongside individual, social, and knowledge-related factors.Overall, the literature suggests that energy drink consumption is influenced by multiple factors rather than one specific cause.OCHS students may have specific academic and clinical demands because their education includes health sciences courses and clinical practice.Therefore, the proposed study will examine the prevalence and factors influencing energy drink consumption among OCHS students and provide local evidence that may support future health education, health promotion, and further research.Background and Literature Review

Energy drinks (EDs) are beverages marketed to increase energy, alertness, concentration, and mental or physical performance.They commonly contain caffeine and other stimulant ingredients, together with sugar or other additives.Therefore, energy drink consumption among college students is an important health and behavioral issue that requires investigation of both prevalence and influencing factors.They are included only as background information, while the main focus remains on prevalence and factors influencing consumption among OCHS students.Other personal factors may include taste or flavor, affordability, previous experience, and individual preferences.During examinations or periods of heavy academic workload, students may experience increased pressure, fatigue, and lack of time.Exam-related consumption may differ from normal daily consumption, making it important to examine the individual reasons behind energy drink use rather than focusing only on prevalence.University students interact regularly with friends, classmates, roommates, and other peer groups.Although previous studies provide useful information, there is a need for current evidence concerning energy drink consumption among OCHS students across Oman.It focuses on four main categories of influencing factors: individual, social, environmental, and knowledge-related factors.However, institution-specific evidence concerning OCHS students remains limited.

5. Background and Literature Review

Energy drinks (EDs) are beverages marketed to increase energy, alertness, concentration, and mental or physical performance. They commonly contain caffeine and other stimulant ingredients, together with sugar or other additives. Their consumption has become common among adolescents and university students because students may use them to remain awake, study for long periods, improve concentration, or manage academic demands. University life often involves examinations, assignments, clinical training, social activities, and irregular sleep patterns. These conditions may encourage students to consume energy drinks as a temporary way to reduce tiredness and maintain alertness. Therefore, energy drink consumption among college students is an important health and behavioral issue that requires investigation of both prevalence and influencing factors.

Previous research has shown that energy drink consumption varies among university students according to country, institution, and student characteristics. In Oman, Khan (2019) reported energy drink consumption among university students and examined related behaviors and perceptions. Studies from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have also reported considerable use among university populations. Alafif et al. (2021) investigated energy drink consumption among university students in Saudi Arabia, while Faqeeh et al. (2025) examined energy drink use and associated factors among university students. These studies indicate that energy drink consumption is relevant within the Gulf region. However, findings from other universities cannot automatically represent students at Oman College of Health Sciences (OCHS), because students may have different academic environments, schedules, knowledge levels, and health-related experiences.

Energy drink consumption has also been discussed in relation to possible health concerns. The caffeine and stimulant ingredients in these beverages may increase alertness, while excessive consumption has been associated in the literature with physiological and cardiovascular effects. Mahmood et al. (2024) reviewed evidence related to energy drinks and cardiovascular effects, and Mandato et al. (2025) discussed cardiovascular considerations associated with energy drink consumption. These findings provide important health background for understanding why energy drink use is a relevant issue. However, cardiovascular outcomes are not a primary outcome of the present study. They are included only as background information, while the main focus remains on prevalence and factors influencing consumption among OCHS students.

Sleep is another factor associated with energy drink consumption. Students who sleep for insufficient hours may consume energy drinks to remain awake during lectures, studying, clinical training, or examinations. At the same time, caffeine consumption, particularly later in the day, may affect sleep and contribute to tiredness. This may create a cycle in which students consume energy drinks because of fatigue and then experience further sleep disturbance. Alshumrani et al. (2023) examined energy drink consumption and sleep-related factors among university students, supporting the importance of considering sleep when investigating consumption. In the present study, sleep is considered an individual factor that may influence students’ energy drink consumption.

Individual factors are important in understanding why students consume energy drinks. Students may believe that these beverages increase energy, improve concentration, help them stay awake, or support academic performance. Other personal factors may include taste or flavor, affordability, previous experience, and individual preferences. Academic stress is also relevant. During examinations or periods of heavy academic workload, students may experience increased pressure, fatigue, and lack of time. Some students may therefore use energy drinks as a short-term strategy to maintain alertness and continue studying. Exam-related consumption may differ from normal daily consumption, making it important to examine the individual reasons behind energy drink use rather than focusing only on prevalence.

Knowledge is another factor that may influence consumption. Students may differ in their knowledge about caffeine, stimulant ingredients, recommended intake, and possible adverse effects of energy drinks. Some students may understand the potential risks but continue consuming them because they perceive benefits such as increased energy or concentration. Others may have limited knowledge or misconceptions about their contents and effects. Therefore, assessing students’ knowledge can help determine whether energy drink consumption is related to awareness and understanding. Since OCHS students are studying health-related subjects, examining their knowledge and consumption behaviors is particularly relevant to understanding whether health knowledge influences their choices.

Social factors may also contribute to energy drink consumption. University students interact regularly with friends, classmates, roommates, and other peer groups. These social relationships may influence beverage choices and attitudes toward energy drinks. Students may be encouraged to try energy drinks because their friends consume them, or they may use them during group study sessions and social activities. Peer influence can also contribute to viewing energy drink consumption as a normal part of student life. Therefore, social factors should be considered when examining the reasons students choose to consume energy drinks.

Environmental factors can influence the availability and accessibility of energy drinks. These beverages may be available in supermarkets, shops, cafeterias, vending areas, and other locations around students’ daily environments. Easy availability may encourage consumption, particularly when students are tired or busy. Price and affordability can also affect purchasing decisions. In addition, advertising and product promotion may shape students’ awareness and perceptions of energy drinks. When energy drinks are easily accessible and affordable, students may be more likely to purchase them. Therefore, environmental availability is an important factor to examine alongside individual, social, and knowledge-related factors.

Overall, the literature suggests that energy drink consumption is influenced by multiple factors rather than one specific cause. Individual motivations, academic stress, sleep patterns, knowledge, peer influence, availability, and affordability may all contribute to students’ consumption behaviors. These factors may vary between populations and educational institutions. OCHS students may have specific academic and clinical demands because their education includes health sciences courses and clinical practice. Their schedules may involve lectures, examinations, assignments, and clinical responsibilities, which may affect stress, sleep, fatigue, and beverage choices. Consequently, institution-specific research is needed to understand energy drink consumption among OCHS students.

Although previous studies provide useful information, there is a need for current evidence concerning energy drink consumption among OCHS students across Oman. The proposed study addresses this gap by examining the prevalence and factors influencing energy drink consumption among OCHS students. It focuses on four main categories of influencing factors: individual, social, environmental, and knowledge-related factors. The study will use a quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional design and collect information from students across OCHS branches. A convenience sampling approach will be used, with a planned sample size of 342 students. Data will be collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire through Google Forms.

The findings may help identify factors associated with energy drink consumption and provide useful information for future health education and health promotion activities. If consumption is related to academic stress, inadequate sleep, limited knowledge, peer influence, or easy availability, the identified factors may guide future interventions. The results may also assist nursing educators and college administrators in understanding students’ health behaviors and educational needs. In addition, the study can provide baseline information for future research concerning energy drink consumption among health sciences students.

In conclusion, existing literature indicates that energy drink consumption is a relevant issue among university students and is influenced by individual, social, environmental, and knowledge-related factors. Evidence from Oman and the wider Gulf region supports the importance of investigating this behavior, while international studies provide additional information about sleep, academic demands, and health concerns. However, institution-specific evidence concerning OCHS students remains limited. Therefore, the proposed study will examine the prevalence and factors influencing energy drink consumption among OCHS students and provide local evidence that may support future health education, health promotion, and further research.