Relationship between smartphone addiction of nursing department students and their communication skills^†

† This study was presented as a poster paper at the 15th National Nursing Congress held in Erzurum, Turkey on 10-12 September 2015.

Abstract

Background: The use of technological devices today is widespread. One of these devices is the smartphone. It can be argued that when smartphones are thought of as a means of communication, they can influence communication skills. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of nursing students’ smartphone addiction on their communication skills. Methods: A relational screening model was used for the study. The study’s data were obtained from 214 students studying in the nursing department. Results: Smartphone addiction levels of students are below average (86.43 ± 29.66). Students think that their communication skills are at a good level (98.81 ± 10.88). Correlation analysis results show that students have a negative, significant and very weak relationship between the smartphone addiction of students and communication skills (r = −.149). Smartphone addiction explains 2.2% of the variance in communication skills. Conclusions: Communication skills of nursing students is affected negatively by smartphone addiction.

Keywords:

• communication skills
• nursing
• nursing students
• smartphone addiction

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank all students who participated in the study.

Notes

† This study was presented as a poster paper at the 15th National Nursing Congress held in Erzurum, Turkey on 10-12 September 2015.