Disconnected or distressed? Exploring mobile phone use and unfinished nursing care among primary and hospital nursing...

The advancement of digital technologies has integrated mobile phone use into both daily and professional life. However, excessive use has led to the emergence of nomophobia (an irrational fear of being without one's device), which may act as a source of distraction in healthcare settings, potentially compromising patient safety and the quality of care.

The aim of this study was to explore mobile phone use and the unfinished nursing care among Primary Care and Hospital nursing professionals.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 161 nursing professionals in Almería, Spain. The Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) and the Unfinished Nursing Care Survey (UNC) were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's correlation), and a multiple linear regression model (p < 0.05).

Participants showed moderate levels of nomophobia (M = 65.8; SD = 22.1) and a moderate-to-high prevalence of unfinished nursing care (M = 109.4; SD = 28.1). Significantly higher levels of nomophobia were found among hospital-based professionals (p = 0.041) and those who expressed a desire to change units (p = 0.042). No significant differences were observed by sex, although women reported higher scores. Regression analysis confirmed that nomophobia is a significant predictor of unfinished nursing care (β = 0.211; p = 0.002), explaining 24.7% of the variance in the model.

Nomophobia shows a moderate prevalence among nursing professionals and is associated with unfinished nursing care. Mobile phone use may function as a cognitive avoidance mechanism in response to work-related stress; however, inappropriate use increases distractions and missed care. It is therefore necessary to develop institutional policies and awareness programs to regulate its use, in order to ensure safe, humanized, and efficient care.