31Dec 2014

Prevalence of Phantom Vibration Syndrome and Phantom Ringing Syndrome (Ringxiety): Risk of Sleep Disorders and Infertility among Medical Students

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Modern-day market of wireless communications is developed at a very rapid growth. Different features of entertainment like camera, internet, video games, etc. are major causes of popularity of mobile phones among young generation. In Karachi, Pakistan almost everyone has a mobile phone. Excessive use of mobile phone is causing serious health issues related to psychology and social behavior. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of newly reported disorders, like Phantom Vibration Syndrome, Phantom Ringing syndrome (Ringxiety), Nomophobia and possible risk for sleep disorders and infertility among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan. The study was based on a questionnaire which was framed after vigorous literature review. Around thirty questions were developed to achieve the objectives. Data was collected from medical students of Dow International Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. The data was analyzed using software named as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The frequency of Phantom Vibration Syndrome on daily, weekly, rarely and never observed basis was found to be 19%, 18%, 56% and 7% respectively. Overall 93% students felt Phantom Vibration Syndrome but in different frequencies. Majority of the students (70%) kept their mobile phones in their trousers’ pockets. Around 10% students kept their mobile phones in upper pockets while 6% students preferred to attach their mobile phones with their belts. Only 14% students answered that they kept their mobile phones in places other than mentioned above. Around 59% students woke up from sleep upon hearing mobile phone ringtone. The percentage of students using mobile phones prior to sleeping was found to be very high, i.e., 93% and 67% students could not live without mobile phones. Mobile phone usage is contributing a major role in increasing psychological stress and related problems among medical students of Karachi, Pakistan.


[Mehtab Alam, Muhammad Sameer Qureshi, Ayesha Sarwat, Zeba Haque, Muhammad Salman Masroor, Muhammad Abdullah Makki, Ibad-ur-Rehman Baig, Muhammad Saad Munir, Moiz Ehtesham, Saad Aslam (2014); Prevalence of Phantom Vibration Syndrome and Phantom Ringing Syndrome (Ringxiety): Risk of Sleep Disorders and Infertility among Medical Students Int. J. of Adv. Res. 2 (Dec). 0] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com


Mehtab Alam