INTRODUCTION:

The smart phones, became an inherent part of human’s life. A smart phone is a cell phone that allows you to do more than make phone calls and send text messages. Smart phones can browse the Internet and run software programs like a computer. Smart phones use a touch screen to allow users to interact with them. There are thousands of smart phone apps including games, personal-use, and business-use programs that all run on the phone^1,2. There are 5.11 billion unique mobile users in the world today, up 100 million (2 percent) in the past year^3,4. There are 4.39 billion internet users in 2019, an increase of 366 million (9 percent) versus January 2018. The number of smart phone users in India is expected to rise by 84% to 859 million by 2022 from 468 million in 2017^5,6.

Billions of people use mobile phones globally, a small increase in the incidence of adverse effects on health could have major public health implications on long term basis^7,8.

Mobile phones emit radiofrequency energy, a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, which can be absorbed by tissues close to the phone. The amount of radiofrequency energy a mobile phone user is exposed depend on many factors like distance between the phone and the user, the extent and type of smart phone use^9,10.

In 2011, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified by means that there “could be some risk” of carcinogenicity, so additional research into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones needs to be conducted^11,12.

It was reported adverse health effects of using mobile phones including changes in brain activity, reaction times, and sleep patterns. More studies are underway to try to confirm these findings. When mobile phones are used very close to some medical devices (including pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, and certain hearing aids) there is the possibility of causing interference with their operation. There is also the potential of interference between mobile phones signals and aircraft electronics. Some countries have licensed mobile phone use on aircraft during flight using systems that control the phone output power ^13,14.

Research has shown an increased risk of traffic accidents, about 3–4 times greater chance of an accident, when mobile phones (either handheld or with a “hands-free” kit) are used while driving due to distraction ^15,16.

Children have the potential to be at greater risk than adults for developing brain cancer from cell phones. Their nervous systems are still developing and therefore more vulnerable to factors that may cause cancer ^17,18.

The overuse of smartphone can lead to a series of problems like depression and anxiety disorders ¹⁹. In addition to psychological health, it has also been associated with physical health problems. For instance, due to small screen size, touch panel, and handholding, long time using smartphone increases the risk of ocular diseases^20,21, dysfunction of fingers, neck pain, and other musculoskeletal problems^{22, 23, 24}. Moreover, smartphone overuse also leads to dysfunctions in daily life, as it distracts people, distorts perception of time, and negatively affects productivity and interpersonal relationships^25,
26.

Herein we tried to find usage of smart phones versus their health issues in Nursing students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This study was conducted as a cross sectional survey using a non-random sample of under graduate nursing students of Adichunchanagiri College of Nursing with irrespective of gender of age group 18 to 22 years. The consent of students was taken to include in the sample. The sample was composed of 150 students. An identification form that contained a 50 questionnaire form was developed by investigators in accordance. This questionnaire form contained very simple “Yes or No”, Agree or Disagree and multiple-choice questions. The above questions include the role of smart phone in their daily life and effect on their health. The above questionnaires were filled by the students in the class room in approximately 45 minutes.

Role of smart phone:

In this group of study, questionnaires mainly focused on type of smart phones used, duration of usage, favorite app, social media, frequency of usage etc.

Smart phone Vs Health:

In this group of study, questionnaires mainly focused on whether using of smart phones will affecting their health by causing like pain at shoulder, neck, headache and problem in vision.

Students were questioned about having shoulder pain, having tangling sensation, having strain for eyes, having pain in ears, having headache, anxiety, depression, insomnia etc.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Fig. 1: Percentage of students using smart phones to watch social media

Fig. 2: Frequency of using smart phones to check status in social media

In the recent years, the use of smart phones among students as an important part of their life and are using their smart phones to accomplish their various daily tasks ^{27, 28, 29}. A similar type of study was reported by the same authors about social behavior and affect of smart phone usage on their academic studies ³⁰.

As mentioned in methods, a list of 150 questionnaires given to Adichunchanagiri College of Nursing students.

During this survey, 148 students agreed that they own and using smart phones whereas remaining two students are not having smart phones but they were using their friend’s phone. Students were asked about usage of social medias, interestingly 92% of students using very frequently Face book and Whatsapp for entertainment. Students were asked that, how frequently they are using and checking messages. On an average of 15 minutes, students are frequently checking the status and messages in the social media. Further students were asked about keeping of their smart phones on bed while sleeping, 85% of students would like to keep their smart phones with them while sleeping and they were not willing to leave. Further students were asked that, whether they are going to check the status /messages in between while they are sleeping and also number of selfies they are going to take in a day. 60% of students were agreed that, they are checking phone status in between while sleeping and they are willing to take on an average of 10 to 15 selfies/day, more interestingly girls are much interested in taking selfies and sharing the same with friends.

When it comes to the matter of health, students were asked about health issues raised / observed by using smart phones. Out of 150 students, about 38% of students noticed shoulder pain, 35% of students noticed tangling sensation, 39% noticed strain for eyes, 32% students noticed pain in ears, 40% students suffered with headache, 26% with anxiety and 5% with insomnia.

CONCLUSION:

During above study authors noticed that, usage of smart phone become part of their life and it affects the health of individuals”.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Authors thank the students who participate in this survey. They acknowledge the Adichunchanagiri College of Nursing and Adichunchanagiri University for providing this opportunity and facility.

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Received on 31.01.2020 Modified on 30.04.2020

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2020; 8(4):432-435.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2660.2020.00096.4