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2026, Vol: 10, Issue: 6
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Original Article
Online Published: 31 May 2026
 


Effect of using smartphones among medical students

Adhari A. Alsulami, Maysaa Aqeel, Ray Abdulaziz Althomali, Jumanah Waleed Alqashqari, Shahad Mohammed Alotaibi, Renad Essam Athobaiti, Raffal Waleed Alqashqari, Seham Algalal, Mohammad Othman.


Abstract
Objective:
This study aimed to assess the impact of using smartphones among medical students on their academic achievement, their eye dryness, and their psychological status.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study, depending on a self-reported questionnaire distributed electronically among medical students. The questionnaire consisted of 6 parts: demographic factors, GPA, DASS-21, Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5), and the Smartphone Addiction Scale for adolescents–short version (SAS-SV).
Results:
A total of 346 students were included. Using gender-specific cutoff points, 44.2% of students were considered smartphone addicts. A significant association was found between smartphone addiction and age group, depression severity, stress severity, and dry eye status. The odds of smartphone addiction were 3.24 times higher among students with dry eye symptoms (OR = 3.24; 95% CI: 1.89–5.56).
Conclusion:
A high percentage of medical students in Jeddah (44.2%) were found to be addicted to their smartphones. Smartphone addiction was significantly associated with higher levels of depression and stress severity. Although causality cannot be determined from this cross-sectional design, the strength of the associations highlighted the importance of addressing digital well-being at an institutional level.

Key words: Smartphone addiction, iPad, medical students, depression, dry eye, Saudi Arabia, SAS-SV, DASS-21, DEQ-5, Jeddah


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alsulami AA, Aqeel M, Althomali RA, Alqashqari JW, Alotaibi SM, Athobaiti RE, Alqashqari RW, Algalal S, Othman M. Effect of using smartphones among medical students. IJMDC. Online First: 31 May, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1776757910

Web Style

Alsulami AA, Aqeel M, Althomali RA, Alqashqari JW, Alotaibi SM, Athobaiti RE, Alqashqari RW, Algalal S, Othman M. Effect of using smartphones among medical students. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=318192 [Access: June 22, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1776757910

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alsulami AA, Aqeel M, Althomali RA, Alqashqari JW, Alotaibi SM, Athobaiti RE, Alqashqari RW, Algalal S, Othman M. Effect of using smartphones among medical students. IJMDC. Online First: 31 May, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1776757910


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alsulami AA, Aqeel M, Althomali RA, Alqashqari JW, Alotaibi SM, Athobaiti RE, Alqashqari RW, Algalal S, Othman M. Effect of using smartphones among medical students. IJMDC, [cited June 22, 2026]; Online First: 31 May, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1776757910


Harvard Style

Alsulami, A. A., Aqeel, . M., Althomali, . R. A., Alqashqari, . J. W., Alotaibi, . S. M., Athobaiti, . R. E., Alqashqari, . R. W., Algalal, . S. & Othman, . M. (2026) Effect of using smartphones among medical students. IJMDC, Online First: 31 May, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1776757910


Turabian Style

Alsulami, Adhari A., Maysaa Aqeel, Ray Abdulaziz Althomali, Jumanah Waleed Alqashqari, Shahad Mohammed Alotaibi, Renad Essam Athobaiti, Raffal Waleed Alqashqari, Seham Algalal, and Mohammad Othman. 2026. Effect of using smartphones among medical students. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 31 May, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1776757910


Chicago Style

Alsulami, Adhari A., Maysaa Aqeel, Ray Abdulaziz Althomali, Jumanah Waleed Alqashqari, Shahad Mohammed Alotaibi, Renad Essam Athobaiti, Raffal Waleed Alqashqari, Seham Algalal, and Mohammad Othman. "Effect of using smartphones among medical students." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 31 May, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1776757910


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alsulami, Adhari A., Maysaa Aqeel, Ray Abdulaziz Althomali, Jumanah Waleed Alqashqari, Shahad Mohammed Alotaibi, Renad Essam Athobaiti, Raffal Waleed Alqashqari, Seham Algalal, and Mohammad Othman. "Effect of using smartphones among medical students." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 31 May, 2026. Web. 22 Jun 2026 doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1776757910


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alsulami, A. A., Aqeel, . M., Althomali, . R. A., Alqashqari, . J. W., Alotaibi, . S. M., Athobaiti, . R. E., Alqashqari, . R. W., Algalal, . S. & Othman, . M. (2026) Effect of using smartphones among medical students. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 31 May, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1776757910




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