Asthenopia Among University Students: The Eye of the Digital Generation.

Lebanon asthenopia digital device prevalence risk factors university students

Journal

Journal of family medicine and primary care
ISSN: 2249-4863
Titre abrégé: J Family Med Prim Care
Pays: India
ID NLM: 101610082

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Aug 2020
Historique:
received: 04 03 2020
revised: 27 03 2020
accepted: 17 04 2020
entrez: 28 10 2020
pubmed: 29 10 2020
medline: 29 10 2020
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Asthenopia or eye strain is one of the major medical problems that students face during their academic years. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of asthenopia among a sample of university students attending various majors and to identify the risk factors for its development. This is a cross sectional study conducted on students attending various faculties at the American University of Beirut during the spring semester of 2019. Students were asked to fill a self-administered anonymous questionnaire that inquired about demographics, use of digital devices, symptoms of asthenopia, possible risk factors and protective measures. A bivariate analysis was performed to correlate asthenopia with the different variables. A multivariate analysis was then conducted to determine the extent of contribution of the different variables to asthenopia after controlling for confounding variables. The prevalence of asthenopia was found to be 67.8% with blurred vision being the most reported symptom (27.0%). A bivariate analysis was used to assess the association between asthenopia and the following variables: demographics, digital device use, reasons for using digital devices, and preventive methods. Age, being a continuous variable, was analyzed using an independent t- test. For the variables that were found to be have a p-value < 0.2, a multiple logistic regression was performed. Old age was found to be a protective factor for asthenopia, with 0.693 times reduction in asthenopia for every increase in year of age. Using the device for communication for less than four hours ( Asthenopia was found to be of non-negligible prevalence among this sample of university students. The results of this study highlight the importance of establishing awareness campaigns and encourage the introduction of targeted screenings for asthenopia among college students.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Asthenopia or eye strain is one of the major medical problems that students face during their academic years.
OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of asthenopia among a sample of university students attending various majors and to identify the risk factors for its development.
METHODS METHODS
This is a cross sectional study conducted on students attending various faculties at the American University of Beirut during the spring semester of 2019. Students were asked to fill a self-administered anonymous questionnaire that inquired about demographics, use of digital devices, symptoms of asthenopia, possible risk factors and protective measures. A bivariate analysis was performed to correlate asthenopia with the different variables. A multivariate analysis was then conducted to determine the extent of contribution of the different variables to asthenopia after controlling for confounding variables.
RESULTS RESULTS
The prevalence of asthenopia was found to be 67.8% with blurred vision being the most reported symptom (27.0%). A bivariate analysis was used to assess the association between asthenopia and the following variables: demographics, digital device use, reasons for using digital devices, and preventive methods. Age, being a continuous variable, was analyzed using an independent t- test. For the variables that were found to be have a p-value < 0.2, a multiple logistic regression was performed. Old age was found to be a protective factor for asthenopia, with 0.693 times reduction in asthenopia for every increase in year of age. Using the device for communication for less than four hours (
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
Asthenopia was found to be of non-negligible prevalence among this sample of university students. The results of this study highlight the importance of establishing awareness campaigns and encourage the introduction of targeted screenings for asthenopia among college students.

Identifiants

pubmed: 33110788
doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_340_20
pii: JFMPC-9-3921
pmc: PMC7586504
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

3921-3932

Informations de copyright

Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

There are no conflicts of interest.

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Auteurs

Rayah Issam Touma Sawaya (RI)

Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Nour El Meski (N)

Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Joelle Bou Saba (JB)

Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Chloe Lahoud (C)

Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Lea Saab (L)

Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Maya Haouili (M)

Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Malek Shatila (M)

Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Zeinab Aidibe (Z)

Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Umayya Musharrafieh (U)

Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Classifications MeSH