Determinants of internet addiction among medical students in Casablanca: a cross-sectional study

Objective:This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and determinants of Internet addiction among medical students at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca,Morocco.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study conducted among students at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Casablanca between October and March 2020.An online questionnaire was administered to students to collect data and internet addiction was assessed by the Young questionnaire.A score threshold≥50 was adopted to define addiction.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with internet addiction.Results:Out of a total of 4093 FMPC students enrolled in the 2020-2021 academic year,506 agreed to participate in this study,including 303 females and 203 males.The mean addiction score assessed on the Young scale was(49.08±16.11).The prevalence of Internet addiction was 44.5%(225/506,95% CI:40% to 49%).Multiple regression analysis showed that being older than 20 years(OR=0.17,95% CI:0.40 to 0.64),being female(OR=1.70,95% CI:1.04 to 2.78),being in the dissertation year(6th year)(OR=5.17,95% CI:2.23 to 11.44),having a history of psychiatric consultation(OR=2.64,95% CI:1.34 to 5.21),having divorced parents(OR=2.64,95% CI:1.05 to 5.87),use of sleeping medication(OR=2.9,95% CI:1.05 to 3.70),sleep disorders(OR=2.06,95% CI:1.25 to 3.79),sleep deprivation(OR=2.26,95% CI:1.39 to 3.65),excessive daytime sleepiness(OR=5.39,95% CI:2.19 to 13.24),anxiety disorders(OR=1.47,95% CI:1.18 to 2.30),duration of internet connection(>4 h)(OR=11.43,95% CI:4.85 to 27.66),and having frequent conflicts with parents(OR=2.37,95% CI:1.49 to 3.79)and friends(OR=0.26,95% CI:0.11 to 0.65)were independently associated with internet addiction.Conclusion:The prevalence of Internet addiction among medical students in Casablanca remains high.Targeted action on the determinants would be of great value in prevention.

Time Management of Open Lower-Leg Fractures in Morocco

Background: It is recommended that the management of open lower-leg fractures should occur within six hours to avoid complications affecting both prognosis and functionality. This study aimed to evaluate the time taken for each step of management, identify causes of delay, and propose solutions to reduce the rate of complications. Patients and methods: This was a prospective study involving 153 patients treated from January 2011 to December 2012. Standardized data collection forms documented the times taken for each management step from the accident until surgical intervention. Results: For patients admitted directly to our institution, median time to surgical debridement from arrival was 5 hours. Median time for bone fixation was 24 hours. External fixation was used in 119 patients. There were several causes of delay;lack of financial resources was the most common. Certain causes of delay were significantly correlated with time to debridement. However, although 86.7% of patients who developed an infection had a time from injury to debridement greater than six hours, there was no statistically significant association between infection and delay beyond six hours (p = 0.403). Conclusion: By identifying causes of treatment delay, we hope to be able to avoid complications, and therefore reduce the socio- economic impact of these important surgical emergencies.