INTERNET ADDICTION , SLEEP QUALITY AND DEPRESSION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS:AN ONLINE CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY

Background:- Internet addiction is familiar problem affecting medical students. Evidence on the burden of depression, sleep quality and internet addiction is fairly low in Indian context. After Covid -19 pandemic, internet use became a necessity but it came with its demerits. The present study aims to assess the prevalence of Internet addiction, sleep quality and depression among medical undergraduates and postgraduates. Methods:- An online cross sectional study was done among the medical undergraduates and post graduates of Shridevi Institute of Medical sciences. Data collection was done through validated questionnaires like Patient Health Questionnaire-9,Young Internet Addiction Test and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for Depression, Internet addiction and Sleep quality. Results:- Out of 220 study subjects, majority (68.6%) were of 20-25 years age group and 61.4% were females. Among these 36.4% used internet >4 hours per day. Most of them (49.5) used internet for social networking. Among them 31.8%, 11.4% and 5% scored validated cut off scores for mild, moderate and severe internet addiction respectively. Poor sleep quality was reported by 91.4% students. A total of 25.5%,16.4% , 9.5% and 6.4 % had mild, moderate, moderately severe and severe depression. Conclusion:- In the current study, majority of the students met the criteria for internet addiction, poor sleep quality and depression. There was a positive correlation between Internet addiction, depression and sleep quality. The temporal link between Internet addiction, sleep and depression could not be studied due to cross-sectional nature of this study.