DefinePK

Research Objective

To assess screen usage before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the association of increased screen time with the frequency of headaches, digital eye strain (DES), and sleep disturbances among undergraduate students.

Methodology

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over five months among 413 university students in Islamabad and Rawalpindi who were attending online classes. A pretested, self-developed semi-structured questionnaire was administered online via Google Forms. Participants with pre-existing visual problems, headaches, or sleep disorders were excluded. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23.0 with descriptive statistics (percentages, frequencies, means, standard deviations) and inferential analysis (Chi-square test).

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD
    A["Study Design: Analytical Cross-Sectional"] --> B["Participant Recruitment: 413 University Students"];
    B --> C["Exclusion of Pre-existing Conditions"];
    C --> D["Data Collection: Online Questionnaire"];
    D --> E["Data Analysis: SPSS 23.0"];
    E --> F["Descriptive Statistics"];
    E --> G["Inferential Statistics Chi-square"];
    F --> H["Key Findings"];
    G --> H;
    H --> I["Conclusion"];                    

Discussion

The study found a significant increase in screen time due to online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a higher incidence of digital eye strain, headaches, and sleep disturbances among undergraduate students. These findings align with previous research but highlight the amplified impact during the pandemic. The discussion emphasizes the need for institutions to promote healthy screen time habits, implement breaks, and conduct awareness sessions.

Key Findings

- Average screen time increased from 5 hours before the pandemic to 9.34 hours during the pandemic.
- 56% increase in students reporting eye complaints post-pandemic, with 15.7% experiencing symptoms immediately after online classes.
- 72% of students reported headaches, with 8.7% experiencing them immediately after online classes.
- Over 69.5% of students agreed that increased screen time affected their sleep quality.
- Significant associations were found between increased screen time and DES (p=0.045), headaches (p=0.003), and sleep disturbances (p<0.001).

Conclusion

The implementation of online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in screen time among students, which is significantly associated with an increased frequency of headaches, digital eye strain, and sleep disturbances.

Fact Check

- Average screen time increased by 4.34 hours (from 5 to 9.34 hours).
- 72% of students reported headaches during the pandemic.
- The association between increased screen time and sleep disturbances was significant with a p-value of <0.001.

Mind Map