Aim: The aim of this study was to examine whether caffeine abstinence in the evening could improve the sleep quality of those who habitually consume coffee.
Design: A double-blind control group design (caffeine and caffeine-free groups).
Setting: A university.
Subjects: A convenience sampling of 10 students (mean age 21.4 years).
Methods: It was a 14-day experiment. For the first 7 days, all participants consumed caffeinated coffee. In the following 7 days, subjects consumed caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee according to their assigned group.
Measures: Sleep-wake parameters, self-reported sleep quality and level of refreshment.
Results: There were no significant differences (p>.05) among the data of the two groups identified. No significant changes (p>.05) were found in the sleep quality of either group during the study.
Conclusion: This study confirms that caffeine abstinence in the evening might not be helpful in sleep promotion. It highlights the need to implement evidence-based practice in health promotion.
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