SMARTPHONE USE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH ADDICTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE ALLIED STUDENTS IN DADELDHURA, NEPAL

Objective: To examine smartphone usage patterns and their relationship with smartphone addiction among undergraduate allied students. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Allied health departments at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Far Western University, Dadeldhura, Nepal. Methods: A total of 350 students aged 18-25 years were selected using multistage random sampling. Data were collected using validated tools including the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. The chi-square test was used to determine association between smartphone usage and addiction. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Nearly half of the participants (49.7%) used smartphones for more than six hours daily. High levels of smartphone addiction were observed in 49.1% of students. Addiction was significantly higher among excessive smartphone users (p<0.05). Conclusion: Excessive smartphone use is significantly associated with addiction among allied students and may negatively influence academic performance and overall wellbeing.