DOI: 10.36347/sasjm

Pages: 158-162

Currently medical students have enormous opportunity to keep them updated with emerging and recent knowledge through internet. The use of internet has become part and parcel of their life. The study was done with the aimof assessing the compulsiveness of internet usage among medical students and the associated behavioral changes due to excessive use. A Cross-sectional study was conducted over I MBBS students. A self-reported proforma consisting of socio-demographic profile, duration of mobile use, purposes for which mobile used and time spent, opinion on internet use over mobile phone and behavioral changes associated, and Compulsive internet usage scale were given. Data was compiled and analyzed.11.21% had CIUS score >28. There was positive correlation between CIUS score and internet usage duration (r=0.41). Behavioral changes noted in the group with CIUS score >28 was significantly higher than the group with score ≤28 (p=0.02). Gender difference in behavioral change was noted in the group with CIUSscore >28.Though the compulsive internet use seem to be relatively less among medical students over usage of internet affects the health of medical students in the form unhealthy behavioral changes which could affect their academic performance.