Frequency and Pattern of Social Network Use in Medical Students, Sari, Iran

Background and purpose: Nowadays, social networks are considered as the major communication tools in communities and throughout the world. This study aimed at investigating the pattern of social network use in medical students who will have important occupations in healthcare system. Materials and methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out in 715 medical students in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran 2018. Information on the frequency and pattern of social network use were collected and data were analyzed in SPSS V21. Results: The mean age of students was 21.59±2.7 years old and 711 students (99.4%) were engaged with social networks. The daily median use of social networks was 3 hours. The most common reason for using these networks were communication with friends (40.45%). The average hours of using these networks were significantly higher in single students compared with those of married ones (P <0.001). Conclusion: This study showed high rates of social network use among medical students. Considering the emergence of social networks in recent years and their potential risks, further researches are needed on other aspects affecting students' study and health status.