Evaluating practice of smartphone use among university students in undergraduate nursing education

Abstract Background Smartphones are the most popular and intriguing technological gadgets that have changed the face of communication and laid an irreversible impact on psychosocial behavior of consumers. A large number of undergraduate nursing students own smartphones and use it effectively for means of communication and acquiring information. Objective This study was designed to evaluate the practice of smartphone use in undergraduate nursing students for educational purposes. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted in college of nursing (N = 135) in King Saud bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences following IRB approval using a self administered questionnaire, piloted and pre-tested in 30 participants. Results The study showed that 94.8% students carry their phones consciously at all times whereas 92.6% check their phones as soon as they arise in the morning. A large number of students (77.8%) reported that they document information on their smartphones in the class whereas 24.4% always use them in clinical settings. The most prevalent use of smartphones was to access information on the website (93.3%) which was more frequently reported in group study compared to individual study. A large number of students reported that they participate in WhatsApp study group (89.6%). Accessing social media platforms for academic reasons was reported by 85.2% respondents. Conclusion Undergraduate nursing students rely heavily on their smartphones for acquiring information and communication. They bear tendency of smartphone addiction and appear to be potential recipients for active learning techniques that may fit their educational needs.