Internet addiction and sleep quality among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multinational cross-sectional survey
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many people, including medical students. The present study explored internet addiction and changes in sleep patterns among medical students during the pandemic and assessed the relationship between them. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in seven countries, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Guyana, India, Mexico, Pakistan, and Sudan, using a convenience sampling technique, an online survey comprising demographic details, information regarding COVID-19, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). RESULTS: In total, 2749 participants completed the questionnaire. Of the total, 67.6% scored above 30 in the IAT, suggesting the presence of an Internet addiction, and 73.5% scored equal and above 5 in the PSQI, suggesting poor sleep quality. Internet addiction was found to be significant predictors of poor sleep quality, causing 13.2% of the variance in poor sleep quality. Participants who reported COVID-19 related symptoms had disturbed sleep and higher internet addiction levels when compared with those who did not. Participants who reported a diagnosis of COVID-19 reported poor sleep quality. Those living with a COVID-19 diagnosed patient reported higher internet addiction and worse sleep quality compared with those who did not have any COVID-19 patients in their surroundings. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that internet addiction and poor sleep quality are two issues that require addressing amongst medical students. Medical training institutions should do their best to minimize their negative impact, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: PLoS ONE
Authors: Muhammad Junaid Tahir, Najma Iqbal Malik, Irfan Ullah, Hamza Rafique Khan, Shahida Perveen, Rodrigo Ramalho, Ahsun Rizwan Siddiqi, Summaiya Waheed, Mahmoud Mohamed Mohamed Shalaby, Domenico De Berardis, Samiksha Jain, Gautham Lakshmipriya Vetrivendan, Harshita Chatterjee, William Xochitun Gopar Franco, Muhammad Ahsan Shafiq, Naira Taiba Fatima, Maria Abeysekera, Qudsia Sayyeda, Shamat Fathi Shamat, Wajeeha Aiman, Qirat Akhtar, Arooj Devi, Anam Aftab, Sheikh Shoib, Chung-Ying Lin, Amir H. Pakpour
Institutions: Lahore General Hospital, University of Health Sciences Lahore, University of Sargodha, Gandhara University, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, University of Auckland, Wah Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Ain Shams University, Guntur Medical College, Texila American University, Universidad de Guadalajara, Holy Family Hospital, Changsha Medical University, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, National Ribat University, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Jönköping University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,749
OpenAlex ID: W3209709362