Abolfazl Mohammadbeigi1, Narges Mohammadsalehi2, Esmail Moshiri3, Zohreh Anbari4, Ali Ahmadi5, Hossein Ansari6. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Neurology and Neurosciences Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. 2. Health Policy and Promotion Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. 3. Department of Anesthesiology, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. 4. EDC, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. 5. Modeling in Health Research Center, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. 6. Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Electronic address: ansarih88@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Mobile phone abuse can cause pathologic stress that may lead to addictive behavior such as Phantom Vibration Syndrome (PVS) and Phantom Ringing Syndrome (PRS). The current study aimed to determine the PVS and PRS due to mobile phone use in students of Qom University of medical Sciences in Iran. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were 380 students selected by proportional stratified random sampling method in each stratum. MEASUREMENTS: Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive and analytic statistical methods including t-test, chi square and analysis of variance. FINDINGS: The prevalence of PVS and PRS due to mobile phones in students of medical sciences was estimated to be 54.3% and 49.3%, respectively. PVS was higher in female students than in males while the PRS was higher in male students. There was a significant relationship between PVS and using social networks such as Viber, WhatsApp, and Line. In addition, a significant association was observed between PVS and friend-finding, chatting and entertainment. CONCLUSION: Studies should be done in the future to assess the long-term complication of overusing mobile phones. In the current study, the prevalence of PVS and PRS in half of students is considerable.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Mobile phone abuse can cause pathologic stress that may lead to addictive behavior such as Phantom Vibration Syndrome (PVS) and Phantom Ringing Syndrome (PRS). The current study aimed to determine the PVS and PRS due to mobile phone use in students of Qom University of medical Sciences in Iran. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were 380 students selected by proportional stratified random sampling method in each stratum. MEASUREMENTS: Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive and analytic statistical methods including t-test, chi square and analysis of variance. FINDINGS: The prevalence of PVS and PRS due to mobile phones in students of medical sciences was estimated to be 54.3% and 49.3%, respectively. PVS was higher in female students than in males while the PRS was higher in male students. There was a significant relationship between PVS and using social networks such as Viber, WhatsApp, and Line. In addition, a significant association was observed between PVS and friend-finding, chatting and entertainment. CONCLUSION: Studies should be done in the future to assess the long-term complication of overusing mobile phones. In the current study, the prevalence of PVS and PRS in half of students is considerable.