The Effectiveness web-based Educational Program on Optimal Use of Smartphones among Students with Nomophobia based on Self-Efficacy Theory: The Role of the Medical Librarian

Nomophobia is defined as the fear of being out of mobile phone contact and is considered a phobia of the modern age. The current study explored the effectiveness of the medical Librarian's web-based educational program on optimal use of smartphones among students with nomophobia based on self-efficacy theory.

This semi-experimental study applied random controlled clinical trial and before-after Design groups with a follow-up method. The population included all students of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences. Of the population, 98 students with high score nomophobia were selected as a sample. They were divided into two groups, control, and intervention, randomly. The intervention group received a web-based educational program, plus an electronic pamphlet. Data were collected in two steps. SPSS software was used to analyze data.

The results indicated that the nomophobia score in an intervention group reduced significantly (P<0.001), just two weeks after the intervention (54.1±16.20) in comparison to the before (78.3±22.11). Also, the average score of self-efficacy increased remarkably (P<0.001), after the intervention (36.3±4.20) than before (30.8±4.79). The score of nomophobia and self-efficacy showed a significant difference between the control and intervention groups.

Health-based educations, especially web-based educations, can be considered a good solution during the pandemics for target audiences. The useful web-based educational program could have improved the recognition of the students toward nomophobia and increase their self-efficacy.