A follow-up study of the association between mobile phone use and symptoms of ill health

Objectives: The duration and frequency of mobile phone calls, and their relationship with various health effects, have been investigated in our previous cross-sectional study. This 2-year period follow-up study aimed to assess the changes in these variables of same subjects.Methods: The study population comprised 532 non-patient adult subjects sampled from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. The subjects underwent a medical examination at a hospital in 2012/2013 and revisited the same hospital in 2014/2015 to have the same examination for the characteristics of mobile phone use performed. In addition, to evaluate the effects on health, the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Korean-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Perceived Stress Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and 12-item Short Form Health Survey were analyzed. For all these tests, the higher the score, the greater the effect on health. Variances between scores in all the indices in the baseline and follow-up surveys were calculated, and correlations of each index were analyzed.Results: The average duration per call and HIT-6 score of the subjects decreased significantly compared with those recorded two years ago. The results showed a slight but significant correlation between call duration changes and HIT-6 score changes for female subjects, but not for males. HIT-6 scores in the follow-up survey significantly decreased compared to those in the baseline survey, but long-time call users (subjects whose call duration was ≥5 minutes in both the baseline and follow-up surveys) had no statistically significant reduction in HIT-6 scores.Conclusions: This study suggests that increased call duration is a greater risk factor for increases in headache than any other type of adverse health effect, and that this effect can be chronic.

A follow-up study of the association between mobile phone use and symptoms of ill health

Objectives: The duration and frequency of mobile phone calls, and their relationship with various health effects, have been investigated in our previous cross-sectional study. This 2-year period follow-up study aimed to assess the changes in these variables of same subjects. Methods: The study population comprised 532 non-patient adult subjects sampled from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. The subjects underwent a medical examination at a hospital in 2012/2013 and revisited the same hospital in 2014/2015 to have the same examination for the characteristics of mobile phone use performed. In addition, to evaluate the effects on health, the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Korean-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Perceived Stress Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and 12-item Short Form Health Survey were analyzed. For all these tests, the higher the score, the greater the effect on health. Variances between scores in all the indices in the baseline and follow-up surveys were calculated, and correlations of each index were analyzed. Results: The average duration per call and HIT-6 score of the subjects decreased significantly compared with those recorded two years ago. The results showed a slight but significant correlation between call duration changes and HIT-6 score changes for female subjects, but not for males. HIT-6 scores in the follow-up survey significantly decreased compared to those in the baseline survey, but long-time call users (subjects whose call duration was ≥5 minutes in both the baseline and follow-up surveys) had no statistically significant reduction in HIT-6 scores. Conclusions: This study suggests that increased call duration is a greater risk factor for increases in headache than any other type of adverse health effect, and that this effect can be chronic.

Validity and Reliability Assessment of Korean Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6)

BACKGROUND: Quality-of-life measurement represents an important tool for evaluating the management and impact of headache on individuals and society. The Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) is a simple instrument developed to assess headache-related disability in Western countries. The objective of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Korean HIT-6. METHODS: Participants were recruited from patients who visited the Neurology Clinic of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital due to headache. The survey included the SF-36 and HIT-6. Headache diagnosis was assigned using ICHD-II after completing a semistructured diagnostic interview. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients were recruited, who were aged 35.2+/-13.6 years (mean+/-SD). Thirty-three and three were diagnosed as having migraine and probable migraine, respectively. Eight and two were diagnosed with tension-type and probable tension-type headache, respectively. There was a negative correlation between the total SF-36 and HIT-6 scores (Spearman's correlation coefficient=-0.64, p<0.01). Similar significant negative correlations were also observed between SF-36 physical health summary and HIT-6 scores (Spearman's correlation coefficient=-0.54, p<0.01), and between SF-36 mental summary and HIT-6 scores (Spearman's correlation coefficient=-0.60, p<0.01). The Cronbach's alpha of HIT-6 was 0.85. CONCLUSIONS: The Korean HIT-6 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing headache-related quality of life.

Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) Scores for Migraine Patients: Their Relation to Disability as Measured from a Headache Diary

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Complete information on migraine-related disabilities facilitate the making of appropriate treatment decisions. Although the accessibility and ease of use of the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) make it a very promising instrument, there are few data available for comparing HIT-6 scores with the actual amount of disability. METHODS: To determine whether the disability measured using the HIT-6 questionnaire realistically reflects the amount of disability as extracted from a headache diary, which would help when deciding a management plan, 130 patients with migraine without aura were instructed to complete a headache diary on the days on which headache occurred. Each diary booklet also contained questions on the resulting disability, and comprised five items originating from the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale. After submitting their diaries, the participants completed the HIT-6 for the same time period. RESULTS: Disability as recorded in diaries was present for a mean of 2.7 days per month, and its duration differed significantly with HIT-6 score: 0.9, 2.6, and 4.6 days per month for littleto-no impact, moderate impact, and severe impact, respectively. The summed disability score from diaries was also related to the HIT-6 score. Headache frequency was the only headache characteristic that contributed significantly to the HIT-6 score. CONCLUSIONS:This study demonstrates that the HIT-6 could be useful for assessing headache-related disability in migraine patients, especially given that the questionnaire is both simple and ease of use.