INTRODUCTION:

Smart phones – a portable device have become prevalent part of our daily lives¹. With the capacity to be used as phone, calendars, internet portals, calculators, maps, entertainment devices, smartphones are capable of performing an almost limitless range of intellectual activities for us and of satisfying most of our needs^2,3,4. Not only the above, in case medical urgencies, these smart phones plays a big role in enhancing their knowledge, for communication, video chatting with the expertise^5,6,7. However, certain studies done and published in The Forbes and The Los Angelis Times by Ellison 2012 and Morin 2013 says that, Smart phones making us much dumber also making us fat, lazy and specially affecting female population⁸.

Other than the above, to learn few techniques like yoga, increase their knowledge in web designing, using different application and communicating with rest of the world^9,10,11,12. The above studies gives the conclusion that excessive usage of smartphones and related technologies is not aiding mental functioning, but rather, is having a negative impact on our ability to think, remember, pay attention, and regulate emotion¹³. One more study was conducted by Subramani Parasuramanet al¹⁴on Smartphone usage and increased risk of mobile phone addiction and reported that, the smart phone users aware about mobile phone/radiation hazards and many of them were extremely dependent on smartphones. They have reported that, one-fourth of the study population were found having feeling of wrist and hand pain because of smartphone use which may lead to further physiological and physiological complication. Another study conducted by Hejab MA and Shaidah Jusoh¹⁵ about usage of smart phone in University campus by their staff. The study says that, the smart phone usage replaces the use of personal computers and are extensively using for teaching and other purposes, but the study also reveals that, these smartphone usage, diverted academic staffs' focus at work, created "check habits", and an artificial relationship¹⁶. These studies encouraged us to examine the extant corpus of studies in terms of the specific claims put forth by the researchers who conducted them, and where relevant, offer a consideration of factors that might qualify or limit the generalizability of the findings. Herein we tried to find usage of smart phones versus their progress in studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This study was completed as a cross sectional survey using a non-random sample of nursing students irrespective of gender of age group 18 to 22 years, who were studying at Adichunchanagiri College of Nursing, Adichunchanagiri University, B.G. Nagara-571448, Karnataka, India during June 2018. The study population included Under Graduate classes of Nursing students and who agreed to participate in the study were included 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 cover importance of smart phone in their daily life and effect on their education. The above questionnaires were filled by the students in the class room in approximately 45 minutes in the month of June 2018.

Importance of smart phone in their daily life:

In this group of study, questionnaires mainly focus on amount of data using per day, their favorite app, where they use phones, why they use internet, for what purpose they mainly use smart phone etc.

Effect of usage of smart phone on their academic achievement:

In this group of study, questionnaires mainly focus on whether using of smart phone will help to improve their knowledge, Will they avoid visiting college library, will their marks are increased as before they have not using smart phones.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Fig. 1: Percentage of students having smart phones

Fig. 2: Variation in academic scoring in previous and present year after having smart phones

The studies conducted by Northern Border University, Rafha, Saudi Arabia on extensive use and effects of smartphones in higher education reported that, 90% of staff of their University admitted that, they were depending too much on their smart phone and also the smart phones are negatively affected on the academic achievements. It is reported that,the impact of mobile phone usage, during class lecture, on student learning, where they observed that, students who were not using their mobile phones wrote down 62% more information in their notes, took more detailed notes, were able to recall more detailed information from the lecture, and scored a full letter grade and a half higher on a multiple choice test than those students who were actively using their mobile phones^17,18,19,20.

During the above studies, out of 150 students, about 148 students were using smart phones and other two are using basic hand set or not using smart phones. The pie chart of Fig. 1 showing the above results. Students were asked about usage of internet data and as well as time they are going to spend in using smart phone per day. Interestingly, about 6% of total students using highest of 6 to 8 hours per day and about 37% students using less than 2 hours per day. About 39% of students using internet data more than 4GB per day and about 49.8% of students using about 1 GB of internet per day. About 38% of students are treating their smart phones are a person or friend whereas remaining treated as hand set. Another interesting factor is that, 15% of students carry their smart phones to bath or rest rooms.

When it comes to the matter of their academic progress, about 56% of students agreed that, the smart phones are affecting or disturbing their academic activities. About 79% of student population agreeing that they have stopped using library facility after they had smart phones. Fig. 2 shows that, 56% of students agreed that, after using smart phones their scoring of marks reduced than the previous year or semester.

The students were asked about why they willing to have a smart phone, only 7% students agreed that they were using it to increase their academic knowledge, whereas 41% students are using it for entertainment and the others have not a clear view.

It was noticed that, their social behaviour and health status also changed lot. Hence authors willing to conduct studies in this direction too.

CONCLUSION:

During above study authors noticed that, usage of smart phone become a question of status and a considerable amount of decrease in their academic achievements.

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 18.08.2018 Modified on 24.08.2018

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2018; 8(4):478-480.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2018.00097.6