Problematic Internet Use and Its Correlates Among Students from Three Medical Schools Across Three Countries

The authors aimed to assess and compare problematic internet use among medical students enrolled in a graduate degree course in one school each from Croatia, India, and Nigeria and to assess correlates of problematic use among these students.

The questionnaire included a sociodemographic profile of participants and Young's Internet Addiction Test.

The final analysis included 842 subjects. Overall, 38.7 and 10.5 % of respondents scored in the mild and moderate categories. Only a small fraction (0.5 %) of students scored in the severe category. Being male and spending more time on the internet were correlated with problematic internet use. Moreover, a significantly higher proportion of participants who scored above the cutoff used the Internet for browsing, social networking, chatting, gaming, shopping, and viewing pornography. However, there was no difference between the two groups with regard to using the internet for e-mailing or academic activities.

It is important to address problematic internet use among medical students. The correlates can help identify those at increased risk.