The use of mobile phone features among Students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Mobile phone has become extremely popular and widely used all over the world. Now a day, consumers around the world can purchase a single product that utility as a mobile phone, camera, camcorder, calculator, game console, text-messaging device, MP3 player, alarm clock, Web browser and email device. The purpose of the present study was to explore self-reported use of various features of mobile phone in university students. This descriptive cross - sectional study was conducted with the 1300 students of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2011. Data were collected by self report questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic information, including age, sex, marital status, education, and information about the possibilities of mobile features. The data analyzed by software SPSS 18 and descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used. Girls used significantly more than boys SMS and educational software like dictionaries while boys used more than girls a mobile phone for login the Internet. Overall mean of use of mobile phone features significantly higher in boys than girls as well as, more boys than girls had changed their mobile phone (P ≤ 0/001). Based on the results of exploratory factor analysis features were divided into five groups including: using of multimedia, using of the software, instrumental using, using to remind, punctuality using. Among mobile phone features SMS, alarm clock, aware of the time, the use of educational software such as dictionaries, contacts and Memory Stick will be used more by students. Most students use the multimedia or audio visual features of mobile phone. Mobile phones can be useful as a tool to educate and inform students.