Nomophobia among Students of Healthcare Colleges and Institutions: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The Covid-19 pandemic has  made a student dependent on their phones as a result of which, these students were glued to their phones for various tasks. AIM: To assess the level of mobile phone dependence (nomophobia) on students of healthcare colleges and institutions in and around a South Indian city. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study was cross-sectional in nature. Mobile phone dependence was obtained from Raines ML et al. and modified accordingly. Score obtained below 20, 20–24, and above 24 were labelled as participants not at risk, at risk, and nomophobia, respectively. Students aged 17 years or higher and  using mobile phones on a regular basis (atleast for 4 months) for at least 1–2 hours per day we included and those reporting a history of alcohol or substance abuse and any psychiatric or sleep disorder were excluded. Data was entered into SPSS version 24.0 and statistical test used were the student’s t-test and logistic regression and Pearson’s correlation keeping p value significant at ≤0.5. RESULTS: Most of the students were males (53.9%) and most students were ≥20 years in age (43.5%). 46% of the students reported using their smartphone for more than 2 hours a day and 59.9% of them reported having a poor sleep quality index of >5 (59.9%). Most of the students (40%) reported a nomophobic score of >24, With 53.2% and 51.3% females. Analysis of the logistic regression revealed a positive, linear and significant association with higher nomophobic scores and poor sleep quality index scores (r=+0.69, p=0.02 for nomophobic score >24). CONCLUSION: The present study revealed a high on nomophobia prevalence among students of healthcare colleges and institutions, which needs urgent intervention as these students are becoming addicted to smartphone usage.