Smartphone usage and addiction among undergraduate dental students in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study

Behavioral addiction to smartphones is a common phenomenon in the present digital age, wherein indulgence in these devices is compulsive and impacts physical, social, and psychological health of the population. The smartphones effect on a dental student's life is detrimental to their academics, health, and efficiency in providing clinical patient care. To assess use and addiction of smartphones among dental students under six major domains and to compare this based on their gender, ethnicity, and year of study.

A cross-sectional study using a validated questionnaire, Smartphone addiction scale was conducted among 349 undergraduate students (N = 349) at a private dental school in Malaysia.

Overall results are presented as mean scores under six domains with total score as 142.40 (33.65). The total scores compared between two genders did not show statistical difference, however on comparing individual domains, females (25.25) had higher mean score for daily life disturbance (P = 0.013) and males (30.17) for cyberspace-oriented relationship (P = 0.001). Chinese students had higher scores with respect to withdrawal (32.45) and cyberspace-oriented relationship (29.48) as compared to other ethnicities. Year 4 students show higher scores than other years in daily life disturbance (27.44), tolerance (16.81), and overuse (16.51).

Our research presents the extent and pattern of smartphone of usage and addiction among the undergraduate students at a dental school in Malaysia. The indicators of addiction highlighted in the study are pivotal in spreading awareness regarding this overuse and addiction as well as planning further research in this area.