International Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation, 2017, 7, 3, 125-131.
DOI: 10.4103/jphi.JPHI_56_17
Published: October 2017
Type: Original Article
Authors:
Subramani Parasuraman
Unit of Pharmacology, AIMST University, Kedah, Malaysia.
Aaseer Thamby Sam
Unit of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Kedah, Malaysia.
Stephanie Wong Kah Yee
Unit of Pharmacology, AIMST University, Kedah, Malaysia.
Bobby Lau Chik Chuon
Unit of Pharmacology, AIMST University, Kedah, Malaysia.
Lee Yu Ren
Unit of Pharmacology, AIMST University, Kedah, Malaysia.
ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to study the mobile phone addiction behavior and awareness on electromagnetic radiation (EMR) among a sample of Malaysian population. Methods: This online study was conducted between December 2015 and 2016. The study instrument comprised eight segments, namely, informed consent form, demographic details, habituation, mobile phone fact and EMR details, mobile phone awareness education, psychomotor (anxious behavior) analysis and health issues. Frequency of the data was calculated and summarized in the results. Results: Totally, 409 respondents participated in the study. The mean age of the study participants was 22.88 (standard error = 0.24) years. Most of the study participants developed dependency with smartphone usage and had awareness (level 6) on EMR. No significant changes were found on mobile phone addiction behavior between the participants having accommodation on home and hostel. Conclusion: The study participants were aware about mobile phone/radiation hazards and many of them were extremely dependent on smartphones. One-fourth of the study population were found having feeling of wrist and hand pain because of smartphone use which may lead to further physiological and physiological complication.
Keywords: Dependency, Electromagnetic radiation, Mobile phone addiction, Smartphone .