Prevalence of Nomophobia and Its Impact on Academic Performance Among Respiratory Therapy Students in Saudi Arabia

Abdulelah M Aldhahir; Heba M Bintalib; Rayan A Siraj; Jaber S Alqahtani; Omar A Alqarni; Abdullah A Alqarni; Hanin S Alghamdi; Mohammed M Alyami; Abdallah Y Naser; Alaa I Fatani; Hassan Alwafi

doi:10.2147/PRBM.S404898

Prevalence of Nomophobia and Its Impact on Academic Performance Among Respiratory Therapy Students in Saudi Arabia

Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2023 Mar 17:16:877-884. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S404898. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Respiratory Therapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Respiratory Care, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
³ King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Respiratory Care, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Clinical Technology Department, Respiratory Care Program, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Respiratory Therapy, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Department of Respiratory Therapy, King Fahad General Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Respiratory Therapy Department, Batterjee Medical College, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia.
¹⁰ Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman, Jordan.
¹¹ Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Nomophobia has been highly prevalent among health discipline students. However, there is no available data on the prevalence of nomophobia among respiratory therapy (RT) students in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey using the nomophobia questionnaire (NMP-Q) was conducted and distributed using a convenience sample of RT students through an online platform (Survey Monkey) between September and November 2022.

Results: Overall, 1428 RT students, with males accounting for 773 (54%), responded to the online survey. The prevalence of nomophobia among RT students was 97.3% (1390). The mean (±SD) of the total NMP-Q items scores was 62 (±22), indicating a moderate level of nomophobia among the RT students. Female RT students had significantly higher nomophobia scores than male RT students (63 (47-80) vs 59 (43-75); p <0.001)). Single RT students had significantly higher nomophobia scores than married RT students (62 (46-78) vs 46 (37-64); p <0.001)). RT students who were living outside the family home had significantly higher nomophobia scores than RT students who were living with their family (66 (54-78) vs 60 (44-77); p = 0.001)). RT students with a GPA of 4.50 to 5.00 had the highest nomophobia score (63 (46-79); p = 0.005)). RT students who were in their third year had the highest nomophobia score (66 (48-80); p <0.001)). RT students who reported no academic warnings had the highest nomophobia score (63 (48-80); p <0.001)). RT students who spent ≥ five hours studying per week had the highest nomophobia score (64 (51-80); p <0.001)).

Conclusion: Nomophobia is common among RT students, with the majority experiencing a moderate level. Being female, single, living outside the family home, and having a higher academic performance were risk factors associated with higher nomophobia levels.

Keywords: NMP-Q; nomophobia; respiratory therapy.