Internet use behavior, risk profile and ‘problematic internet use’ among undergraduate medical students: an epidemiological study

Abstract

Background: With emerging internet use, there is need to understand differences between ‘normal’ and ‘problematic internet use’. The objective of the study was to estimate internet use behaviour and risk profile, prevalence of problematic internet use and to determine association among them. Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken among medical undergraduates. Pilot tested, structured questionnaire along with internet addiction test was administered. Results: Total of 122 students with mean age of 20.6 years (SD 0.878) participated in the study. Majority had personal computer and smart phones (88.5% and 98.4% respectively). Students were online at place of residence, classrooms and library (97.5%, 50% and 34.4% respectively). Students were online every day for instant messenger, social networking, leisure, without purpose, emails, downloads, forums, blogging, shopping, listening to radio and gaming (91.0%, 64.8%, 32.0%, 27.9%, 22.1%, 18.0% and 14.8%, 1.6%, 6.6%, 4.1% and 8.2% respectively). False information from internet, blocking of mails, pretending, and sharing password was found in 52.5%, 71.3%, 45.1% and 36.1% students respectively. Only 4.1% students had undertaken cyber safety courses. Moderate prevalence of ‘problematic internet use’ was 19.7%. Significantly higher internet use in classrooms, higher use of emails, social networking, blogging, forums, leisure, surfing without purpose, shopping, downloading and higher cyber risk was seen among those with ‘problematic internet use’ (p=0.001, 0.010, 0.009, 0.021, 0.026, 0.002, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.005 respectively). Conclusions: Internet use has become an integral part of our lives. There is a need to estimate the baseline and develop evidence based strategies in the country.