International Journal of Interdisciplinary Nursing Science

Assess the Internet Dependency and Associated Psychological and Physical Problems Among Students

Smitha Sivan — 2026-07-18

Introduction: The internet has become one of the most important and useful technological tools available worldwide, which has both positive and negative impacts on today’s modern society. It has become essential to our daily life, especially among youth and adolescents. Adolescents are the primary users of new technologies, and their primary purpose is social interaction. Although new technologies are useful to teenagers in addressing their developmental tasks, recent studies have shown that they may be an obstacle to their growth. However, excessive use of the internet by adolescents causes multifaceted harm to the person, including mental and physical health.

Aim of the Study: This study aimed to assess the internet dependency and associated psychological & physical problems among collegiate students.

Materials and Methods: A quantitative research approach with a descriptive research design was adopted to assess internet dependency and its associated psychological and physical problems among engineering students. The study was conducted among 100 first-year engineering students from selected engineering colleges in Surat. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Students aged 17–20 years who owned and actively used a smartphone or smartwatch were included in the study. Students who were employed at the time of data collection were excluded. Prior to data collection, ethical approval and administrative permission were obtained from the concerned authorities. The purpose of the study was explained to all participants, and written informed consent was obtained. Confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation were ensured throughout the study. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and standardized rating scales. The semi-structured questionnaire included demographic information and items related to internet dependency, such as the number of installed applications, daily phone usage, time spent on educational and social media applications, and phone use during classes. Psychological and physical problems were assessed using separate rating scales consisting of 10 items each. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Frequency and percentage were used to describe the demographic characteristics and study variables. Chi-square tests were applied to determine the association between selected demographic variables and internet dependency, psychological problems, and physical problems. Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient test was used to examine the relationship between internet dependency, psychological problems, and physical problems.

Results: The study included 100 engineering students aged 17–20 years. Most participants were male, belonged to urban areas, and lived in nuclear families. WhatsApp, Instagram, Google Classroom, and YouTube were the most frequently used applications. The majority of students used 1–4 educational and social media applications for 1–4 hours daily, and many reported thinking about their phones during classes. Most participants experienced mild psychological (49%) and mild physical (47%) problems. Statistical analysis revealed no significant association between internet dependency and selected demographic variables. Furthermore, no significant relationship was found between internet dependency and psychological or physical problems. However, a weak positive relationship was observed between psychological and physical problems among the participants.

Conclusion: The study concludes that there was no significant association between internet dependency and selected demographic variables. Moreover, there was no relationship between internet dependency and psychological or physical problems. Additionally, there was no relationship between psychological problems and physical problems.

Evaluation of Awareness of Infant Fostering Among Women in a Gynaecological Setting: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Chukwuma, Mary K. — 2026-07-24

Infertility remains a significant reproductive health challenge with profound psychological and social implications for women, particularly in African societies where childbearing is highly valued. This study evaluated the awareness of infant fostering (child adoption) among women in a gynaecological setting. The main objective was to determine the level of awareness and its implications for reproductive health education and policy frameworks. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was employed for this comprehensive investigation. A convenience sample of 164 women attending the gynaecological clinic at Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA) participated willingly. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed thoroughly using frequency tables and percentages. Results revealed that 76.22% (125/164) of the respondents had heard of infant fostering, while 23.78% (39/164) had no prior awareness. The primary source of information was friends (40.80%, 51/125), followed by mass media (27.20%, 34/125). Applications of these findings include integrating comprehensive infant fostering education into existing reproductive health programs, developing community awareness campaigns, and strengthening specialized counseling services for infertile women to promote informed decision-making within the healthcare sector.

Determinants of Tuberculosis Case Detection Among Healthcare Providers in PaPaBaTa Lanao Del Norte: A Cross-Sectional Study

Walid P. Rascal — 2026-05-07

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a significant public health challenge in the Philippines, with persistent gaps between estimated incidence and reported cases indicating suboptimal case detection. Healthcare providers play a critical role in TB identification and reporting, yet evidence on provider-related determinants in decentralized rural settings remains limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine healthcare provider–related determinants of TB case detection rates (CDR) in the PaPaBaTa Inter-Local Health Zone, Lanao del Norte, Philippines.

Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional analytical design was employed involving 188 healthcare providers selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire assessing predisposing (knowledge), enabling (resources and organizational support), and behavioral factors, alongside facility-level TB records to compute CDR. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression were used for analysis at a 95% confidence level.

Results: Providers demonstrated low perceived knowledge of TB diagnostic guidelines (M = 2.31), moderate enabling conditions (M =3.04), and moderate practice engagement (M = 3.04). Facility-level CDR varied from 7.27% to 33.33%. Knowledge (r = 0.42), enabling factors (r = 0.36), and behavioral practices (r = 0.41) showed significant positive correlations with CDR (p < 0.01). Regression analyses revealed that TB knowledge (β = 0.31), professional role, educational attainment, years of service, employment status, and type of posting significantly predicted CDR (R² = 0.48). Enabling (R² = 0.52) and behavioral factors (R² = 0.55) also significantly influenced detection outcomes, with routine screening and identification of presumptive cases as key predictors.

Conclusion: TB case detection is significantly influenced by provider knowledge, health system support, and behavioral practices. Strengthening training, resource provision, and provider engagement is essential to improve TB detection in decentralized settings.

From Parenting to Phone Dependency: Uncovering the Roots of Smartphone Addiction in Children

Anshu — 2026-06-08

Background: Smartphone addiction among school-going children is a growing public health concern with far-reaching consequences for academic achievement, social behaviour, and psychosocial well-being. Parental factors, including personality traits and parenting style, are fundamental in shaping children's digital self-regulation and technology use patterns. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between parental personality, parenting style, and children's smartphone addiction among parents of school-going children at a selected school in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional, non-experimental descriptive design was adopted. The study was conducted among n = 113 parents of school-going children at a selected school of Varanasi, UP, selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured tool comprising four sections: (I) Socio-demographic Performa, (II) Big Five Personality Trait Checklist (10 items), (III) Parenting Style Questionnaire (15 items — authoritative, authoritarian, permissive subscales), and (IV) Children's Smartphone Addiction Scale (14 items, scored 0–3). Tools were validated by experts, and reliability was established prior to data collection (Cronbach's α reported for each subscale). Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered via Google Form. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson's correlation coefficient and Chi-square test) were applied at α = 0.05 level of significance using SPSS.

Results: Among the parenting styles, permissive attitude showed the highest mean score (15.4 ± 4.06), followed by authoritative (14.1 ± 3.91) and authoritarian (13.8 ± 3.90). Correlation analysis revealed that conscientiousness was significantly negatively correlated with children's smartphone addiction (r = −0.236, p < 0.01), and neuroticism showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.195, p < 0.05). All three parenting styles showed significant positive correlations with children's smartphone addiction: authoritarian (r = 0.425, p < 0.01), authoritative (r = 0.346, p < 0.01), and permissive (r = 0.278, p < 0.01). Among socio-demographic variables, only parents' daily mobile phone usage showed a statistically significant association with children's smartphone addiction (χ² = 13.597, df = 4, p = 0.009).

Conclusion: Parental personality traits and parenting style significantly influence smartphone addiction among school-going children. Conscientiousness emerged as a protective factor while neuroticism increased risk. Authoritarian and permissive parenting styles were associated with higher addiction levels. Parental mobile phone usage emerged as the single significant socio-demographic predictor. These findings underscore the need for parental awareness programmes and evidence-based digital parenting interventions in school and community health settings.