THE USE AND ADDICTION TO SMART PHONES AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AND STAFFS IN A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA

Objective: Smart phones have become an important part of human's life, including the healthcare population and medical students. However, pathological use of smart phones could lead to smart phones addiction. The aim of this study is to observe a pattern of usage of smart phones among the medical students and staffs in the Faculty of Medicine Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and screen for smart phone addiction among the respondents. Methods: A cross sectional, quasi-experimental study design involving medical students and staffs in the Faculty of Medicine Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) was employed. A total of 598 respondents was approached to participate, and all consented to this study. Measurements used in the study include a self-developed questionnaire to measure pattern of smart phone usage and Smart phone addiction scale (Malay version). Result: We found that 65.9% of the respondents were heavy users of the smart phone (more than 3 hours daily) and majority of them were using it for social networking. More than half of the respondents (52.2%) were at risk of developing smart phone addiction based on Smart phone Addiction Scale (Malay Version). Conclusion: This study revealed that medical students, and the faculty staffs were heavy users of smart phones, and they were at risk to develop smart phone addiction.