Mobile Phone Addiction Among Healthcare Professionals in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Introduction: prolonged use of smartphones leads to nomophobia, characterized by fear and mental unrest, resulting in depression and anxiety. Objective: to estimate the level of mobile phone addiction among healthcare professionals at the Civil Hospital of Culiacán and the Research and Teaching Center in Health Sciences (CIDOCS) in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, and correlational cross-sectional observational study was conducted with a probabilistic sample of 265 participants. Data were collected using the Personal Data Sheet and the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMPQ-20). The study complied with Mexico's General Health Law regarding research on human subjects and was approved by the CIDOCS ethics committee. Results: 47.5% of healthcare staff exhibited moderate levels of nomophobia. Women showed higher prevalence in the dimensions "renouncing comfort" and "inability to communicate." Significant differences were found across shifts in the dimensions of "loss of connection," "renouncing comfort," and "inability to access information," with gender being significant in "inability to communicate" (p < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between work experience and age with nomophobia and its dimensions. Conclusions: The study highlights the prevalence of nomophobia among healthcare professionals, influenced by gender, age, and work experience. Differences from international studies suggest cultural and occupational influences. Longitudinal studies are recommended to explore the evolution of nomophobia in broader contexts.