1Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Malla Reddy Medical College for Women, Kaloji Narayan Rao University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, vibha_udupi@yahoo.co.in
2Professor, Department of Microbiology, Malla Reddy Medical College for Women, Kaloji Narayan Rao University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
*Corresponding author email id: drshyamala12@gmail.com
Online published on 29 November, 2018.
Mobile phone has become an essential accessory mainly for college students as it gives them infinite knowledge and news at any precise time and place. Needless use of this handy device can seriously affect their studies and health.
The aim of this study was to reveal usage pattern of mobile phones among medical undergraduate students.
Across-sectional study was conducted among 114 first year medical college students. Aquestionnaire comprising of 17 questions was used and the data obtained were analysed using percentages and proportions.
In our study, all the students possessed smart phones. Majority (88.5%) of the students used their phones mainly to check the internet, and 57.8% felt their performances in examinations were affected by phones. A total of 17.5% were having phantom ringing sensation, and 37.7% spent more than 500 rupees monthly on their phones.
Overindulgence with phones can have negative impact on students. So proper guidance to the students should be provided by their parents as well as independent lecture sessions should be held for purposeful, appropriate and safe use of phones.
Smart phone, Phantom ringing, Questionnaire study, Undergraduate students, M-learning, Nomophobia
