M Akdemir H Erengin D Sebhan Bozbay M Aktekin
European Journal of Public Health, Volume 27, Issue suppl_3, 1 November 2017, ckx186.050, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckx186.050
Background
Internet addiction is becoming increasingly recognized as a mental health concern and it causes personal, familial, financial and occupational problems like other addictions. This study aimed to determine the internet addiction prevalence and related factors among last-year medical students.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted among last-year medical students at
Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine in March 2017. 259 medical students who were at their last year make up the population. 216 (83.4%) students participated in the study.
Data was collected with a questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic questions and 20 questions of the Internet Addiction Test developed by Young. Chi Square was performed. Level of significance was taken as p < 0.05.
Results
Of the students participated in the study 48.1% were female, 51.9% were male and average of age was 24.65±1.09. According to Internet Addiction Test, the mean score was 42.19±20.51. 65.7% of the students were classified as “normal users”, 30.6% were “risky users” and 3.7% were “addicted users”.
The male students were compared to the female students, and students who consumed alcohol and smoked cigarettes to non-users, students who didn’t read books during their leisure time were found to be more risky or addicted than those who did.
There are no statistically significant difference between “risky” and “addicted” levels of internet usage and age, accommodation during education (dormitory or with family), perceived income, doing sport and going to the cinema or theater.
Conclusions
The prevalence of addicted users of internet is low in last-year medical students. Research should be conducted with a larger number of participants to determine the risk factors. Determining internet addiction and related factors plays a key role to prevent this addiction.
Key messages:
- The males compared to the females were found to be more risky or addicted internet users.
- The last-year medical students who consumed alcohol and smoked cigarettes, were at risk of internet addiction.
;