Why Do Medical Students at Assiut University Use Smartwatches?

Badr El-deen, Alaa Ahmed; Abdel Khalek, Ekram Mohamed; Mahmoud, Heba Mohamed

doi:10.21608/jamb.2025.383091.1048

Why Do Medical Students at Assiut University Use Smartwatches?

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Biostatistics and Applied Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology Research & Studies Institute, Assiut University, Assiut 71511

² Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71511, Egypt

10.21608/jamb.2025.383091.1048

Abstract

The utilization of smartwatches by medical students is prevalent, primarily due to their role in health monitoring, which serves as a significant motivator. These devices provide real-time data, including heart rate, oxygen levels, sleep patterns, and stress levels, which aid in reducing burnout and enhancing overall well-being. Academically, smartwatches offer immediate access to medical references, calculators, and clinical applications during rotations, thereby improving efficiency, effectiveness, and decision-making. This study aimed to analyze the usage patterns and assess the causes and effectiveness of smartwatch use among preclinical medical students at Assiut University. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with a calculated sample size of 420. During the 2024-2025 academic year, medical students participated by completing a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. This questionnaire was developed using Google Forms and disseminated to medical students via Telegram channels. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0. Among the 613 medical students included in this study, 126 (20.6%) reported using smartwatches. The average age of these users was 19.10 ± 1.04 years. A statistically significant higher prevalence of smartwatch ownership was observed among younger and urban students compared to their older and rural counterparts. Approximately 46.8% of users wore the smartwatch continuously, while 48.4% wore it daily. Except for the perception of improved overall health and fitness, no statistically significant differences were found between smartwatch users regarding the frequency of use and perceptions of health and fitness. Participants generally exhibited a positive attitude towards the impact of smartwatches on their health and fitness.

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