Impact of Smartphone Usage on the Academic Performance among Medical Students.

Mobile phones are considered as an essential part of day to day life. But its excessive use is detrimental to the mind and body; especially, for the young population. Even though there are many reports regarding the issues related to excessive use of smartphones and its impact on the academic and social life of college going students, research related to medical students is sparse. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of smartphone usage on academic performance of a selected group of medical students using a structured questionnaire.METHODSA survey-based study has conducted among randomly selected MBBS students (N=200), comprising of 85 males and 115 females, in the age group of 17-25 years. A self-administered and pre-tested questionnaire which includes questions on the effect of smart phone, was used.RESULTSResults of the survey showed that all the participants are using smart phones and agreed that it is an essential part of their life. Among these, only 12.2% of students are using it for academic purpose. Surprisingly 68.8% students use their mobile phone inside the classroom. 44.2% of the participants felt that their smartphones are distracting them from studies. They also reported that due to the overuse of smartphones they are unable to concentrate on studies (34.2%), it affects study habits and leads to poor performance in exams (40%), produces stress for the eyes (21%) and a decrease in overall academic performance (29.1%).CONCLUSIONSThe present study group of medical students felt that overuse of smartphone is the main reason for their poor academic performance. They also realise the ill effect of overuse of mobile phones on health. The present study helped us to create awareness among the participants regarding the impact of overuse of smartphones and how it is influencing their academic activities. Universities and colleges can also create awareness regarding mobile phone use.

Algunas variables psicosociales asociadas al bajo rendimiento académico en estudiantes de primer año de medicina / Some psychosocial variables associated with the poor academic performance from the first year students of the medicine career

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 236 estudiantes desaprobados en la asignatura Morfofisiología III de primer año de medicina, pertenecientes a la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas No 2 de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero hasta mayo del 2016, con el propósito de determinar algunos aspectos psicosociales asociados al bajo rendimiento académico en dichos alumnos. Se aplicó una encuesta, la escala de estrés de Holmes y Rahe, los inventarios de ansiedad rasgo-estado y depresión de Beck. También se tuvieron en cuenta las notas de las evaluaciones frecuentes y parciales, el examen final integrador teórico y práctico, así como la trayectoria del estudiante en la asignatura. En la serie predominaron los estilos de vida inadecuados, el divorcio, la desmotivación y los altos niveles de estrés

A descriptive and cross-sectional study of 236 students who did not pass the test in the matter Morphophysiolgy III in the first year of Medicine career was carried out. They belonged to the Medical Sciences Faculty 2 in Santiago de Cuba, from January to May, 2016, with the purpose of determining some psychosocial aspects associated with the poor performance of these students. A survey, Holmes and Rahe stress scale, the anxiety feature-state and Beck depression stockchecks were carried out. The frequent and partial evaluation marks, the theoretical and practical integrating final exam as well as the experience of the student in the matter were taken into account. In the series there was a prevalence of inadequate life styles, divorce, lack of motivation and high levels of stress

Normalización, subjetividad y alternativas al bajo rendimiento escolar / Normalization, subjectivity and alternatives to the low school performance

El "bajo rendimiento académico" es considerado un factor que promueve el fracaso y la deserción escolar. Si la vida escolar es un escenario de socialización, las experiencias de fracaso o deserción tendrán implicaciones directas en su subjetividad que pueden ser determinantes en la participación social. El presente estudio busca comprender los procesos de configuración de subjetividad, dentro del escenario de socialización de la escuela, en aquellos niños y niñas que afrontan la condición de ser catalogados en el rango de "bajo rendimiento escolar", mediante la exploración de las Funciones Cognitivas Superiores (en adelante FCS) desde la Neuropsicología y la exploración del concepto de "sí mismo". El estudio se ha llevado a cabo mediante la exploración de la FCS y la indagación sobre el concepto de sí mismos, en dos escenarios: "Exploración en condiciones evaluativas" y "Exploración en condiciones no-evaluativas". Los participantes son niños y niñas con edades comprendidas entre los 6 y 8 años, que pertenecen a colegios de ampliación de cobertura de la Arquidiócesis de Cali.

The "Poor academic performance " is considered a factor that promotes failure and dropout. If school life is a stage of socialization experiences of failure or desertion have direct implications on their subjectivity which may be decisive in social participation. This study seeks to understand the processes of subjectivity settings within the scenario of socialization of school, those children who face the condition of being cataloged in the range of " Poor academic performance ", by exploring cognitive functions higher (hereinafter FCS) from the Neuropsychology and exploration of the concept of "self". The study was conducted by scanning the FCS and inquiry on self-concept in two scenarios: "Exploration in evaluative conditions" and "Exploration in non-evaluative condi- tions". The participants are children aged between 6 and 8 years, belonging to schools to expand coverage of the Archdiocese of Cali.

Perfiles de estudiantes mexicanos con aptitudes intelectuales sobresalientes / Psychological profiles of Mexican gifted students / Perfis de estudantes mexicanos com aptidões intelectuais destacáveis

El estudio se propuso determinar si la motivación al logro y el autoconcepto social permitían identificar conglomerados en estudiantes de bachillerato intelectualmente sobresalientes. Se realizó un diseño clasificatorio con una metodología cuantitativa para lo cual, mediante un muestreo aleatorio simple, se seleccionaron 133 estudiantes sobresalientes. Se identificaron dos conglomerados de estudiantes: el primero se denominó 'Altamente orientado al logro', y el segundo como 'Poco orientado al logro', respectivamente. Los estudiantes del primer conglomerado se caracterizaron por una mayor motivación al logro académico, menor autoconcepto social y mejor promedio académico. Se concluyó que en los aspectos motivacionales y emocionales los estudiantes sobresalientes presentan diferencias importantes, lo que sugiere tener cuidado con las generalizaciones realizadas sin sustento empírico. Asimismo, evidenció la importancia de la identificación de las diferencias individuales como parte de las estrategias de orientación y tutoría a estos alumnos.

The study was aimed to determine whether achievement motivation and social self-concept allowed identifying clusters of intellectually outstanding high school students. A classification design with a quantitative methodology was applied whereby, by simple random sampling, 133 outstanding students were selected. Two clusters of students were identified: the first, known as 'Highly achievement oriented', and the second as 'Lowly achievement oriented', respectively. Students of the first cluster were characterized by a greater motivation toward academic achievement, lower social self-concept and higher academic average. It was concluded that in motivational and emotional aspects outstanding students show significant differences which suggests being careful with generalizations made without empirical support. The study also showed the importance of identifying individual differences as part of the counseling and tutoring strategies with these students.

O estudo propôs determinar se a motivação ao sucesso e o autoconceito social permitiam identificar conglomerados em estudantes de segundo grau intelectualmente destacados. Foi feito um estudo classificatório com uma metodologia quantitativa para a qual, mediante uma amostragem aleatória simples, foram selecionados 133 estudantes destacados. Identificaram-se dois conglomerados de estudantes: o primeiro denominou-se 'Altamente orientado ao êxito, e o segundo como 'Pouco orientado ao êxito, respectivamente. Os estudantes do primeiro conglomerado caracterizaram-se por uma maior motivação ao sucesso acadêmico, menor autoconceito social e melhor média acadêmica. Conclui-se que em os aspectos motivacionais e emocionais os estudantes destacados apresentam grandes diferenças, o que sugere ter cuidado com as generalizações realizadas sem sustento empírico. Da mesma forma, evidenciou-se a importância da identificação das diferenças individuais como parte das estratégias de orientação e tutoria a estes alunos.

Sensory, cognitive and motor assessment of children with poor academic performance: An auditory evoked potential study.

The present study aims to evaluate the auditory sensory process in the brainstem, thalamocortical and cortical areas by using auditory evoked potentials [auditory brainstem response (ABR), mid latency response (MLR) and slow vertex response (SVR)], cognitive functions by P300 and motor response by reaction time in children with poor academic performance. Thirty children between 6–12 years of age were selected as subjects on the basis of poor academic school records. While thirty children with good academic performance served as controls. The recordings were done using a computerized evoked potential recorder by 10–20 electrode placement system. There was no difference in the anthropometric parameters and IQ of the two groups. There was a significant increase in latency of waves II, III, IV and V, and Inter-peak latency I-V of ABR in poor performer females. All the component waves of MLR and SVR showed increased latency in the subjects but could not reach the level of significance. There was a significant increase in latencies of P300 at Cz and Pz electrode positions with no change in amplitude in poor performer females. The reaction time was also increased in the poor performer females as compared to the controls. The latencies of all the waves of ABR, P300 and reaction time are also increased in male poor performers as compared to male controls but could not reach the level of significance. The conduction of impulses is slower in pontine and midbrain auditory pathway along with inefficient cortical processing of task relevant stimuli and motor response in female children having poor academic performance.