The outburst of modern technology in the last decade has led to extreme changes in peoples’ lifestyles. Handheld smartphones in particular have substituted various devices resulting in an increase of daily usage. The high prevalence of students spending time engaged in smartphone usage.

The main objective of the current study is to explore Alfaisal medical student’s behavior towards smartphones. Moreover, to examine the influence of smartphone usage on the productivity and efficiency of students’ academic performance.

To date 273 out of 400 student from Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were enrolled in this study. Students answer a questionnaire along with their academic GPA. The survey was done in English and Arabic languages and the survey questions constructed based on well establish graded scale that range between 1 not applicable –5 totally apply to me. Data were entered to SPSS version 20 and initial descriptive analysis were carried out.

Our preliminary results showed that currently, 123 students volunteered to answer an electronic version of the survey and others filled the hardcopy (n=150). The gender analysis showed that 56% (n=158) females answered the survey while 44% males (n=115) participated

Their age ranged from 18- 24 years with a majority of 83% aged 18-21 years old.

The majority of our participants were 1^st and 2^nd year medical students. 

Moreover, more than 80% of the students acknowledged handheld device distraction that might affect their education.                     

In conclusion, only 10% of our students pointed that the cell phone has a positive effect on their GPA, however the majority of the student indicated that cell phone usage had a negative impact on their studying outcome.

An excessive use of smartphones might affect the GPA outcome.

Dr. Nivin Sharaf MD., LMCC*, Tarek Alsibai, Ayman Faiz, Ghadi Askar, Fatuma Adem, Yara Alsouss and Wejdan Al Qatifi
College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia * neldin@alfaisal.edu

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