INTRODUCTION:

Many digital devices which have evolved from personal desktops, such as notebook computers, tablets, and other mobile devices, have become ubiquitous in today’s world. The new technology has transformed many aspects of our culture, commerce, communication and education.

Worldwide the smart phones are becoming increasingly popular in both personal and professional life. The smart phones have been rapidly adopted in many countries, providing easy access to information in ways that was not possible before. Smart phones, in particular, have brought many changes to our daily lives since they provide various functions including a camera, multimedia player, phone, Internet browser, navigation system, e-mail, gaming device, and social networking services (SNS) all in one portable device (Boulos, Wheeler, Tavares and Jones, 2011; Mok et al., 2014).

While smart phones have made life more convenient, it has also brought many side-effects (Kim et al., 2014). Kuss and Griffiths (2011) reported that excessive smartphone use can decrease real-life social interaction, lower academic performance, and negatively affect relationships. Moreover, excessive smart phone use can give rise to adverse effects similar to those caused by problematic Internet use, including comorbid psychiatric disorders and the impairment of social and emotional functioning due to the portability factor that allows for real-time and personalized Internet services anywhere (Boulos et al., 2011). Excessive smart phone use can also disrupt physical activity (Lepp, Barkley, Sanders, Rebold and Gates, 2013). Functions such as calling, sending and receiving text messages, updating social networking sites, and browsing the Internet, have historically been defined as sedentary behaviors (Rosenberg et al., 2010). Such inactive behavior correlates with various health problems including obesity or metabolic syndrome because it results in low levels of energy expenditure (Hamilton, Hamilton and Zderic, 2007; Owen, Healy, Matthews and Dunstan, 2010).

ADVANTAGES:

The smartphones have many features and applications which can be successfully harnessed in health care. The potential of smartphone as an educational tool is an area which has started to gain recognition. The use of smart phones by health personals has increased because it provide easy access to updated medical information, required for medical students and practitioners. It is also beneficial for quick communication with the health personals. (Walace and Clark, 2012; Amr J et al, 2016; Ozdallga E et al, 2012; Alshurafa N, 2015; Xu X, 2015; Choi JS, 2011).

Pimmer C, Linxen S, Gröhbiel U, Jha AK, Burg G (2013) revealed that Mobile learning in resource-constrained environments allowed learners to enhance (a) situated learning, by immediately connecting virtual information sources to their situated experiences; (b) cross-contextual learning by documenting situated experiences in the form of images and videos and re-using the material for later reflection and discussion and (c) engagement with educational content in social network communities.

Smartphone use increased connectedness and resulted in a high level of interruptions. These 2 factors impacted 3 discrete educational domains: supervision, teaching, and professionalism. Smartphone use increased connectedness to supervisors and may improve supervision, making it easier for supervisors to take over but can limit autonomy by reducing learner decision making. Teaching activities may be easier to coordinate, but smartphone use interrupted learners and reduced teaching effectiveness during these sessions. Finally, there may be professionalism issues in relation to how residents use smartphones during encounters with patients and health professionals and in teaching sessions. Smartphone use increase connectedness and allow trainees to be more globally available for patient care but creates interruptions that cause trainees to be less present in their local interactions with staff during teaching sessions. Educators should be aware of these findings and need to develop curriculum to address the negative impacts of smartphone use in the clinical training environment (Wu RC, Tzanetos K, Morra D, Quan S, Lo V, Wong BM, 2013).

DISADVANTAGES:

Zarghami M et al. (2015) conducted a study to assess the extent to which the students of Mazandaran University of medical sciences use their phones after light-out, and to determine its relationship with sleep quality, headache, tiredness, and distractibility, after elimination of the impact of stressful events. Overall, 358 students from different schools of the university participated in a cross-sectional study with self-report questionnaires i.e. demographic questionnaire, cell phone use questionnaire, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and social readjustment rating scale. The results revealed that 60% of the students used their cell phones after lights were out. There was a significant relationship between using cell phones late at night and insomnia, low energy, tiredness and headache. Once the impact of stressful events was eliminated, the relationship remained significant only for insomnia. No significant relationship was observed between using cell phones and distractability.

Cerutti R, Presaghi F, Spensieri V, Valastro C, Guidetti V (2016) conducted a study on Adverse effects of excessive mobile phone use among medical students and found that Impaired concentration was reported by 34.27% of respondents, memory disturbances by 40.56%, sleeplessness by 38.8%, hearing problems by 23.07%, and facial dermatitis by 16.78%. The sensation of warmth within the auricle and behind/around the ear was reported by 28.32%. Out of 286 subjects who participated in this study, 44.4% related their symptoms to mobile phone use. Mobile phones play a large part in the daily life of medical students. Therefore, its impact on psychology and health should be discussed among the students to prevent the harmful effects of mobile phone use. Mohammadbeigi A et al 2016 revealed that Over use of internet and social networks via smart phones is related to poor sleep quality and quantity.

The active users of cellular phones and computers show a high aggressiveness, anxiety, hostility, and social stress, low stress resistance, and susceptibility to arterial hypotension. The negative influence of cellular phones and computers on the schoolchildren's health increases with the increased duration and frequency of their use.

Thomée S, Dellve L, Härenstam A, Hagberg M (2010) conducted a study on Perceived connections between information and communication technology (ICT) use and mental symptoms among young adults and revealed that Central factors appearing to explain high quantitative ICT use were personal dependency, and demands for achievement and availability originating from the domains of work, study, social life, and individual aspirations. Consequences included mental overload, neglect of other activities and personal needs, time pressure, role conflicts, guilt feelings, social isolation, physical symptoms, worry about Electromagnetic radiation, and economic problems. Qualitative aspects (destructive communication and information) were also reported, with consequences including vulnerability, misunderstandings, altered values, and feelings of inadequacy. User problems were a source of frustration.

The vast majority of young people have mobile phones. This has become a must-have item in their lives, with traditional socialization spaces displaced by virtual ones. They use their mobile phones for many hours a day, to the detriment of their psychological and social functioning, showing greater vulnerability to abusive or excessive use, and more likely to become problematic or addicted users. The results show that mobile phone abuse generates conflicts in young people of both sexes, although girls have more communication and emotional problems than boys. In addition, age, field of knowledge, victim/aggressor profile, and hours of mobile phone use are crucial variables in the communication and emotional conflicts arising from the misuse of mobile (Polo Del Río MI, Mendo Lázaro S, León Del Barco B, Felipe Castaño E, 2017).

CONCLUSION:

Though the use of smart phones has become an important part of ever body life in today’s technological environment yet the potentials complications should be stressed attentively. Studies had demonstrated both pros and cons of smart phones uses and their impact on health. The educational leaders, health professionals and government should plan strategies to make the public more aware about the impact of mobile phones on health.

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Received on 04.10.2017 Modified on 30.10.2017

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2018; 8(3):339-342.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2018.00068.X