Smart Phone and Internet Addiction among Undergraduate Medical Students

Abstract

Background: Smartphone is an indispensable miracle of artificial intelligence in the hands of global netizens. The internet and smartphones have a strong potential for addiction. Excessive usage of these technologies can have adverse effects on physical, social, and psychological well-being of the users.Objective: To assess the prevalence of Smartphone and Internet addiction and the associated factors amongmedical students.Methodology: Cross-sectional study was conducted among 202 undergraduate medical students. Data wascollected using pre-tested and pre-designed proforma after taking informed consent on voluntary basis. Smartphone addiction scale - short version (SAS-SV) and Internet addiction test (IAT) was used to assess smartphone and internet addiction respectively. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test and odds ratio was applied.Results: Among 202 undergraduate medical students 41.58% were addicted towards smartphone. 55.45% were having internet addiction, of which 39.60% and 15.35% were having mild and moderate level. 53.75% who were addicted to smartphone were having moderate and mild levels of internet addiction. This finding was found to be statistically significant (χ2 = 57.609, df = 1, p = 0.0001, OR= 13.4429)Conclusion: Smartphone addiction and internet addiction are related proportionally. It is necessary to createawareness regarding the ill health effects and to promote physical, social, and mental well-being among students from the undergraduate level.