Assessment of Social Phobia among Students of Nursing College in Hawler Medical University at Erbil City-Iraq

Abstract

Aims of the study: Present study aims to assess the social phobia among nursing students at Hawler Medical University in Erbil City.

Methods: Quantitative, Descriptive study was conducted on nursing students in the college of Nursing at Hawler Medical University in Erbil City in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq at 5th May to 4th August 2015. A non-probability (purposive sample) was used for selection of 296 students. Questionnaire was designed and divided into two parts; socio-demographic characteristics of nursing students, and social phobia items which included Inventory scale questions that include 17 items with 5 responds. The data were analyzed through the SPSS software V.22 application, descriptive data analysis was done through measuring of frequency and percentage of social phobia score using Social Phobia Inventory Scale. Inferential data analysis was done by Chi-square and ANOVA tests.

Results: The results shows that most of the study sample was between 17-22 years old, female, single, and faire economic status from rural area (59.8%). Most of the students had social phobia. There was significant difference between students academic years regarding severity of social phobia.

Conclusions: The study concluded that more than half of the study sample had social phobia and there are a highly significant relationship between academic years and social phobia among the nursing students.

Recommendations: The study recommends educational programs for all nursing students regarding social phobia and how to cope with such situations in Hawler Medical University.