title: Crossover study of the effect of coffee consumption on simulated laparoscopy skills.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of caffeine on performing laparoscopic skills in novices in a simulated setting.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Coffee is consumed almost ubiquitously by surgeons not just as a stimulant but also socially in the well-rested individual. It's therefore worth investigating its potentially negative effect on performance of surgical skills as it is known that coffee has psychomotor effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a single-blind crossover study in which 31 novices were tested under three different conditions: decaffeinated, 100 mg caffeine and 200 mg caffeine. Candidates were asked to perform 3 repetitions of task 3, 6, 7 and 8 using the Lap Mentor™ (Simbionix(®)). Outcomes measured were completion time, accuracy, number of movements and total path length. The candidates were crossed over to the other caffeine doses on a different day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  20 candidates completed the study, mean age 21.3 years, with 10 males and 10 females. Candidates performed tasks 7 and 8 faster in the decaffeinated group than the caffeinated groups with significant differences between decaffeinated and 100 mg caffeine (p-value = 0.001, 0.019 respectively) and decaffeinated and 200 mg in task 8(p-value = 0.042). Total path length was significantly less in the decaffeinated group in tasks 7 and 8 and total number of movements was less in tasks 3, 7 and 8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caffeine had no marked effect on accuracy, but had a negative effect on task economy (hand movements, total path length and completion time).
authors.affiliation: Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Garrod Building, Turner St, Greater London, E1 2AD, UK; Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK. Electronic address: Vincent_quan@hotmail.co.uk.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK; Academic Department of Upper GI Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BB, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alaraimi
authors.affiliation: Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Elbakbak
authors.affiliation: Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouhelal
authors.affiliation: Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK; Academic Department of Upper GI Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BB, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003069:Coffee; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003069:Coffee; D002110:Caffeine
keywords: Caffeine; Coffee; Laparoscopic; Skills; Surgical