Smartphone Addiction as a Factor Related to Wrist Pain in Nursing Professional Students of Suherman Medika University

Abstract

Smartphone addiction is a dependency caused by excessive smartphone use that can lead to wrist pain due to repetitive movements and non-ergonomic posture. Nursing students are among the late adolescents at risk of experiencing this condition due to academic demands and high intensity of smartphone use. This study aims to determine the relationship between the level of smartphone addiction and the level of wrist pain in nursing students at Medika Suherman University. This study used a quantitative method with a cross-sectional approach and a correlational analytical design. The study sample consisted of 42 students selected using total sampling technique. The research instruments used were the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV) and the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Data analysis was performed using the Chi-Square test. This study has obtained ethical approval from the Research Ethics Committee of Medika Suherman University (No: 005146/UNIVERSITAS MEDIKA SUHERMAN/2026). The results of the study showed a p-value of 0.002 (p < 0.05), indicating a significant relationship between the level of smartphone addiction and the level of wrist pain among nursing students. It was concluded that the higher the level of smartphone addiction, the higher the risk of wrist pain. Students are advised to limit the duration of smartphone use and adopt ergonomic postures to prevent wrist pain.