Health-conscious programme for appropriate use
of smart devices: abridged secondary publication
SMH Tsang1, GLY Cheing1, AKC Lam2,3,4, AMH Siu5, PCK Pang2,3,4, KC Yip6, M Jensen7
1 Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
2 School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
3 Research Centre for SHARP Vision, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
4 Hong Kong Centre for Eye and Vision Research, Hong Kong SAR, China
5 Department of Health Sciences, Brunel University, United Kingdom
6 Hong Kong Evangelical Church Social Service Limited, Hong Kong SAR, China
7 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, United States
- There is a high prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal, visual, and psychosocial symptoms among adolescents with excessive use of electronic devices.
- A moderate association was found between electronic device use and these symptoms.
- The degree of slumped spinal posture during electronic device use was correlated with the severity and frequency of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms.
- Vergence facility and accommodative facility were correlated with the severity and frequency of self-reported eye symptoms and the Ocular Surface Disease Index, respectively.
- Frequent breaks, physical activity, and focused-group programmes help reduce the negative impacts associated with excessive or problematic use of electronic devices.