Prevalence of Nomophobia and Its Association with Academic Performance Among Physiotherapy Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross- Sectional Survey

Abstract

Abdulelah M Aldhahir,1 Heba M Bintalib,2– 4 Munyra Alhotye,5,6 Jaber S Alqahtani,7 Omar A Alqarni,8 Abdullah A Alqarni,9 Khadijah N Alshehri,10 Ahmed H Alasimi,11 Reynie P Raya,12,13 Mohammed M Alyami,14 Abdallah Y Naser,15 Hassan Alwafi,16 Eidan M Alzahrani17 1Respiratory Therapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Respiratory Care, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 4UCL Respiratory, University College London, London, UK; 5Department of Respiratory Therapy, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 8Clinical Technology Department, Respiratory Care Program, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Respiratory Therapy, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 10Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 11Department of Respiratory Therapy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA; 12Faculty of Science, Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia; 13Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK; 14Respiratory Therapy Department, Batterjee Medical College, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia; 15Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman, Jordan; 16Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia; 17Physical Therapy Department, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Abdulelah M Aldhahir, Respiratory Therapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected] Heba M Bintalib, UCL Respiratory, University College London, London, UK, Email [email protected]: Nomophobia is common among students in many healthcare disciplines, and its association with academic performance has been explore before. However, there is no available data on its prevalence and association with academic performance among undergraduate physiotherapy (PT) students in Saudi Arabia.Methods: Between 22 December 2022 and 30 January 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted by dissemination using an online platform (Survey Monkey).Results: In total, 806 PT students, with males accounting for 494 (61%), responded to the survey. The prevalence of nomophobia among PT students was 98.4% (793). The mean (±SD) of the total NMP-Q items scores was 49 (± 17), indicating a mild level of nomophobia. Female PT students had significantly higher nomophobia scores than the males (47 (39– 65); 44 (38– 52); (p < 0.001)). Non-smokers had significant higher nomophobia scores than smokers (46 (38– 61); 44 (38– 49); (p = 0.004)). Regarding grade point averages (GPA), the students with a GPA of less than 3.49 had the highest nomophobia score (51 (43– 74); p < 0.001)). Concerning the stage of their studies, bridging students had the highest nomophobia score (51 (34– 76); p = 0.023)). Regarding academic warnings, those who reported no academic warnings had the highest nomophobia score (46 (42– 50); p = 0.023)). Finally, regarding study hours, the students who spent ≥ five hours studying per week had the highest nomophobia score (54 (42– 68); p < 0.001)).Conclusion: Nomophobia is common among PT students, with the majority experiencing a mild level. Being female, non-smoker, and having a higher academic performance were risk factors associated with higher nomophobia levels.Keywords: nomophobia, physiotherapy, PT, Saudi Arabia

Keywords

• nomophobia
• physiotherapy
• pt
• saudi arabia.