scholarly journals Smartphone Addiction and its Associated Factors Among Freshmen Medical Students in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author(s):  
Huan Liu ◽  
Ming Zhang ◽  
Zhiqing Zhou ◽  
Ergang Zhu Zhu ◽  
Long Huang

Abstract Background With the widespread smartphone use worldwide, this has brought about addiction and smartphone addiction recognized as an emerging epidemic. The study aims to investigate the prevalence of smartphone addiction among freshmen medical students and explore its association with personal factors, mental health and professional identity.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in October 10th to November 10th, 2020 and included 2182 first-year college students at Wannan Medical College, China.The Smartphone Addiction Test, Professional identity, 12-item General Health Questionnaire were used in this cross-sectional survey. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to examine the correlations between smartphone addiction with mental health and professional identity. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess examine the factors influencing smartphone addiction.Results Of the 2182 students, 866(39.7%) were identified as smartphone addiction. The logistic regression analysis shows that four factors (professional identity scale,poor mental health,whether or not smartphone use before sleep, and perceived study pressure) had a significantly associated with smartphone addiction.Conclusions This cross-sectional study showed that smartphone addiction was common among the chinese freshmen medical students. smartphone addiction was common among the freshmen medical students surveyed.The findings suggest that the promotion program aimed at enhancing the mental health and professional identity among freshmen medical students are beneficial to reducing their smartphone addiction.

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e043728
Author(s):  
Makiko Arima ◽  
Yusuke Takamiya ◽  
Atsuko Furuta ◽  
Kris Siriratsivawong ◽  
Shizuma Tsuchiya ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on university students, including those in medical schools, with disruption in routine education causing significant psychological distress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with psychological distress among medical students during the period of enforced home quarantine from March through May 2020.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingOne Japanese medical school.Participants571 medical students.Primary and secondary outcome measuresSelf-administered electronic questionnaires including the K-6 scale for psychological distress, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) for self-esteem and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) for self-efficacy were distributed. To assess the determinant factor for psychological distress, variables such as sex, grade in school, living conditions, and RSES and GSES scores were evaluated in regression analysis.Results163 respondents (28.5%) scored ≥5 on the K-6 scale, indicating a significant degree of psychological distress. Logistic regression revealed that a higher score on RSES (p<0.001) and GSES (p<0.01) was an independent factor associated with lower levels of psychological distress. Multiple regression analysis focusing on students with a K-6 score ≥5 revealed that higher scores on RSES correlated with lower levels of psychological distress. By contrast, those with higher GSES scores also scored higher for indicators of psychological distress.ConclusionsThis study identified that self-efficacy and self-esteem were both influential factors for predicting psychological distress during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Medical schools should provide support for mental health and educational initiatives directed at enhancing self-esteem and self-efficacy, with a focus on improving personal resilience. In emergency situations, such as that faced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, initial programmes might target students with higher levels of self-efficacy. By contrast, under routine situations, these efforts should be directed towards students with lower self-esteem as primary means to prevent depression.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirisa Karki ◽  
Sameer Timilsina ◽  
Jaya Prasad Singh

Abstract Introduction Increasing smartphone use among adolescents in todays’ world has made this handy device an indispensable electronic tool, however, it comes at a price of problematic overuse or addiction. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of smartphone addiction among undergraduate medical students and explore its association with various demographic and personal factors.Methods A pool of 250 undergraduate students enrolled at Chitwan Medical College were included in this cross-sectional study conducted between August to November 2018. A preformed demographic porforma along with 10-point Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version was used to collect participant information.Results Smartphone addiction among medical students was estimated at around 36.8% with higher percentage of male smartphone addicts. Prevalence rates of smartphone related tolerance was reported in 42.8% participants, 37.6% reported phubbing and 60.8% participants reported overuse. Statistically significant association was observed between smartphone addiction and gender, self-acknowledgement of addiction and overuse.Conclusion This study provides preliminary insights into smartphone use, smartphone addiction and various factors predicting smartphone addiction among early undergraduate medical students from Nepal, which should be extended in future studies. Some fruitful programs and strategies to promote students’ knowledge and awareness about using smartphone seems to be the need of the hour.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfaldet Mekonnen Estifanos ◽  
Chen Hui ◽  
Afewerki Weldezgi Tesfai ◽  
Mekonnen Estifanos Teklu ◽  
Matiwos Araya Ghebrehiwet ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Youth in general and young females, in particular, remain at the center of HIV/AIDS epidemic. To avoid and prevent HIV infection, comprehensive knowledge as well as correct understanding of transmission and prevention strategies are crucial. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore the predictors of comprehensive knowledge on HIV/AIDS and accepting attitude towards PLWHIV. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2016 Uganda Demographic Health Survey. A two-stage probability sampling method was applied and data were collected using a standard questionnaire. Of the total 8674 women aged 15–49 years, 1971 eligible women aged 15–24 years were included in this analysis. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23. A Chi-square test followed by logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between specific explanatory variables and outcome variables. The results were reported using odds ratios with 95% confidence interval. P value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Overall, 99.3% of the unmarried women aged 15–24 years were aware of HIV/AIDS, but only 51.9% had comprehensive knowledge on HIV/AIDS. Around 70% of the respondents were aware that "using condoms every time when having sex" and "having only one faithful uninfected partner" can prevent HIV transmission. About 68% of the unmarried women rejected at least two common local misconceptions about HIV/AIDS. An alarmingly small (20.6%) proportion of the respondents had a positive acceptance attitude towards PLWHIV. All variables were significantly associated with having comprehensive knowledge on HIV/AIDS in the unadjusted logistic regression analysis. After adjustment, older age (20–24 years), being educated, wealthier, and ever been tested for HIV/AIDS became predictors of adequate comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Moreover, respondents with adequate comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS were more likely (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.30–2.08) to have a positive acceptance attitude towards PLWHIV than their counterparts. Conclusion Our study demonstrated a remarkably high level of awareness about HIV/AIDS among study participants, but the knowledge and positive acceptance attitude towards PLWHIV were not encouraging. Thus, endeavors to expand and strengthen educational campaigns on HIV/AIDS in communities, health facilities, and schools are highly recommended. Attention should particularly focus on young-aged and disadvantaged women with low educational level, poor socioeconomic status and those who have never been tested for HIV/AIDS.


Author(s):  
AA Toubasi ◽  
BR Khraisat ◽  
RB AbuAnzeh ◽  
HM Kalbouneh

Objective Medicine is considered one if not the most stressful educational field. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of stress and poor sleeping quality among medical students and the association between them. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Jordan on second- and third-year medical students. The questionnaire consisted of: 1) Demographics; 2) The assessment tools which were Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI) and Kessler Psychological Distress Status (K10). Binary logistic regression, chi-square and linear regression were used to investigate the association between PSQI, K10, and their determinants. Results The mean for PSQI score was 6.76 ± 3.32. PSQI scores interpretation revealed that 61.7% of the 282 participants of this study were poor sleepers. Logistic regression results showed that only the category of not napping at all from the napping hours variable was significantly associated with sleeping quality. Furthermore, the mean of K10 scores was 24.5 ± 8.5. K10 scores revealed that 66.3% of the participants were stressed. Logistic regression results showed that gender and regular exercise were significantly associated with psychological distress. Additionally, chi-square test, logistic regression and linear regression showed that PSQI was significantly associated with K10 (P <0.01). Conclusions Stress and poor sleeping quality in medical students at the University of Jordan were highly prevalent and strongly associated. What determined PSQI was daytime napping, and for K10 were regular exercise and gender. Further investigations into stress and sleep quality in the Arabian region are needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 832-840
Author(s):  
Katti Sathaporn ◽  
Jarurin Pitanupong

Objective: To determine the level of and factors associated with empathy among medical students.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed all first- to sixth-year medical students at the Facultyof Medicines, Prince of Songkla University, at the end of the 2020 academic year. The questionnaires consisted of:1) The personal and demographic information questionnaire, 2) The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, and 3) ThaiMental Health Indicator-15. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and factors associated with empathylevel were assessed via chi-square and logistic regression analyses.Results: There were 1010 participants with response rate of 94%. Most of them were female (59%). More than half(54.9%) reported a high level of empathy. There was a statistically significant difference in empathy levels betweenpre-clinical and clinical medical students; in regards to empathy subgroups (P-value < 0.001). The assessment ofemotional states in others by demonstrating appropriate sensitivity behavior, altruism, and empathic respondingscores among the pre-clinical group were higher than those of the clinical group. Multivariate analysis indicatedthat female gender, pre-clinical training level, and minor specialty preference were factors associated with empathylevel. The protective factor that significantly improved the level of empathy was having fair to good mental health.Conclusion: More than half of the surveyed medical students reported a high level of empathy. The protective factorthat improved the level of empathy was good mental health. However, future qualitative methods, longitudinalsurveillance, or long-term follow-up designs are required to ensure the trustworthiness of these findings.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S303-S304
Author(s):  
Syed Muhammad Jawad Zaidi ◽  
Muhammad Hamza ◽  
Raja Adnan Ahmed ◽  
Mishal Fatima ◽  
Hassan Nadeem ◽  
...  

AimsThe increasing burden of mental disorders coupled with the social stigmatization in Pakistan is an immense barrier in combating the emerging mental health crisis. The low number of qualified psychiatrists and poor intake in post-graduate psychiatry training programs in the region further complicates the problem. Thus, our study aims to assess the attitudes of Pakistani medical students towards psychiatry. Furthermore, we also aim to evaluate how experience and different levels of exposure to psychiatry among students affect their attitudes towards psychiatry as a career choice.MethodThis cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey made on Google Forms. A total of 831 medical students studying across various private and public medical institutions of Pakistan responded to the survey. The questionnaire comprised of demographical details (gender, age, institution, and academic year) exposure to psychiatry, duration of psychiatry rotation, and personal experience with mental illness. The attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry were evaluated using the English version of the 30-item Attitudes Towards Psychiatry (ATP-30) scale. Chi-square test and multiple regression with backward method were used to analyze the data.ResultThe Cronbach's alpha value of the ATP-30 scale was 0.830. The participants in our study had a mean score of 107.6 ± 12 on ATP-30. Overall, most participants had a positive attitude towards psychiatry. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant model pertaining to predictors of attitude toward psychiatry (F (df) = 11.28 (830), P < 0.001). However, the predictors included in the model accounted for only 5.8% of the variation in ATP-30 scores. According to it, those students had a more positive attitude toward psychiatry who identified as female, older and having any sort of exposure toward psychiatric specialty, direct involvement in psychiatric patient care, and reporting personal experience of mental illnesses.ConclusionOur study showed that medical students had a positive attitude towards psychiatry but female medical students, students with previous exposure to psychiatry, and students with longer psychiatry rotations tend to view psychiatry more positively. The generally positive trend towards psychiatry in Pakistan indicates the need to sustain improvements through proactive measures. We recommend longer placements for medical students in mental health settings for at least 4 weeks or longer. Medical schools should also promote research, discussions, and seminars on different psychiatric illnesses in order to enhance awareness among the students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Huiwu Han ◽  
Fan Zheng ◽  
Weiwei Dai ◽  
Hua Peng ◽  
Shi Zhou ◽  
...  

Objectives. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is now becoming a serious public health threat. Some behaviors risk factors were considered to be associated with MetS and interacted to adversely affect MetS. However, the clustering effects of behavior risk factors of MetS among Chinese population remain unclear. The aim of this study is to observe the behavior risk factors and their clustering effects of MetS in China. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was used. Subjects were recruited in the departments of Cardiology Clinic, Endocrine Clinic, and Health Management from March to December 2019. A demographic sheet was designed to collect the demographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects. International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short was applied to evaluate the level of PA in this study. Other behavior risk factors were observed by the questionnaire. The stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the determinants of MetS. The multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the clustering effects of behavior risk factors in MetS. Results. There are a total of 532 eligible subjects (56.6% females; mean age was 48.4±15.3 years), and approximately 33.3% were diagnosed as MetS. The subjects with a smoking habit (heavy and long-time history) had a 1.833-fold higher risk for MetS than their counterparts (none and light smoking), and the subjects that preferred salty taste had a 1.626-fold higher risk for MetS than the comparison cohort. Smoking and alcohol drinking had the highest clustering effect on MetS among the behavior risk factors. Conclusions. The main finding of this study was that smoking and salty taste preference were the independent determinants of MetS. Smoking and alcohol consumption had the highest clustering effect on southern Chinese MetS.


Author(s):  
Mahesh D. Kurugodiyavar ◽  
Sushma H. R. ◽  
Maneesha Godbole ◽  
Manjunath S. Nekar

Background: Smartphone with its various functionalities has become an essential part of our daily activities and its use has been increasing. This has raised concern about its overuse and addiction especially in students. It is known that poor sleep is very common among medical students; there are many studies on sleep quality and its determinants in medical students but very few relating sleep quality and smartphone addiction. The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between smartphone use severity and sleep quality among medical students of KIMS, Hubballi. Methods: A cross‑sectional study on sample of 240 undergraduate medical students KIMS, Hubballi was conducted. Students were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire, Smart phone addiction scale (SAS) and Pittsburgh sleep quality inventory (PSQI). SAS score and PSQI scores were co-related. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to identify the variables independently associated with level of sleep quality. Results: Out of 240 subjects 117 (48.75%) were poor sleepers & 123 (51.25%) were good sleepers according to PSQI global sleep score. According to SAS score 123 (51.2%) were low users and 117 (48.75%) were high users of Smart phone. The mean (SD) PSQI global score was 4.8 (2.49) and mean (SD) SAS score was 102.93 (22.13). There was positive correlation between SAS score & PSQI score (r=0.343, p<0.001). Gender (β=0.141, p=0.021) & SAS score (β=0.292, p<0.001) were the significant predictors of global PSQI score. Conclusions: This study concludes that in medical students smartphone addiction affects sleep quality significantly and males are particularly more at risk of having poor sleep quality due to excessive smartphone use.  


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document