Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background: Internet is a safe tool but its extreme use leads into internet addiction that is classified as behavior-based addictions. The use of internet and the internet addiction is increased among students and university students. This study was done with the purpose of determining the knowledge condition, attitude and addiction to internet among BSc students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

  Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 100 BSc students whom were selected by cluster sampling method. Data collection was a researcher-built questionnaire and its validity and reliability was achieved. The questionnaire was consisting of background questions of knowledge, attitude and behaviors of research units. The data was analyzed by SPSS software (version16) with the help of Chi-square test and Independent t- test.

  Results: The mean knowledge and attitude score of the students was average (4 ± 1.8, 21.54 ±3.8).18% of the students had internet addiction behavior. There was a significant association between attitude scores and academic field (p= 0.013). Male student were more addicted to internet compared to female (13% to 5%). There was a significant relation between internet addiction behavior and its method and duration of use (p= 0.008, p=0.0001).

  Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude of the studied students are inadequate and the internet addiction behavior exists among them. Thus, education intervention designs by appropriate learning theories are proposed.