Study of mobile phone usage in medical students of deemed university of Western Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Background: Mobile phone holds the great importance in everyday life. Mobile phone and internet usage have become universal practice especially among the student community. Mobile Phone usage has both pros and cons.Methods: This study was planned in medical students of D. Y. Patil University to know the pattern, purpose & impact if any of mobile phone usage among them. The study included 200 undergraduate medical students of first to third year MBBS. All were explained the purpose of study and data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire in June-August 2015.Results: There were more pre-paid users 81% than post-paid users. It has been seen that 65% of the participants were using mobile phone >2 hours per day and more than 200 rupees spent monthly by 120 (60%) users. 34 (17%) participants were always using mobiles while driving but men were found to be comparatively less (7.84%) in number with no significant difference. 20 (10%) complained of dry eyes, 11 (5.5%) had diminished hearing and 53 (26.5%) had some other reasons to complain. Headache & diminished hearing found to be more in girls 45 (30.20%) & 10 (6.71%) compared to boys. 21% of participants were always disturbed during sleep due to mobile phones. More than half (56.5%) of the participants were using mobile phones during college hours.Conclusions: Hence mobile usage during collage hours should be restricted, mandatory switching off during lecture hours in campus recommended. There is need to reduce mobile phone usage, switch off / silent mobiles during sleep time, avoid during driving and should be monitored mobile usage in adolescents.