Effect of Utilizing Health Belief Educational Model on Nursing Students’ Internet Addiction, Attention Span Levels and Quality of Life

Abstract

Background: Internet addiction disorder is proved to cause negative consequences on individual physical and mental health and all quality of life domains which include physical, psychological, social and economic, environmental and academic domains. Objective: To explore effect of utilizing health belief educational model on nursing students’ internet addiction, attention span levels and quality of life. Settings: This study was carried out at the Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University. Subjects: a random sample of 144 out of 227 students who have moderate and high levels of internet addiction were recruited to participate in the study and assigned to (control and study groups).Tools: three tools were used. Tool one: internet addiction test. Tool two: Attention span assessment levels questionnaire. Tool three: Student Quality of Life Assessment Questionnaire (SQLAQ).Results: There was a significant decrease in internet addiction level for students in the study group than in the control group (p<0.001*) post intervention application. Furthermore, majority of the study group exhibited higher levels of attention span and quality of life (P= <0.001*) post intervention. Conclusion: Health belief educational intervention was proved to be effective in reducing internet addiction level, improving attention span and quality of life among study group compared to control group. Recommendations: Replication of the study on large proportionally sampling and other settings to ensure that results can be generalized.