RESUMO
Background: Smartphone usage is gradually escalating among Indian adolescents, which is having adverse consequences on their health and well-being. Awareness regarding adverse health impacts of smartphone usage among adolescents is thus necessary. Aims and Objectives: This study assessed the smartphone usage pattern and perception regarding its health effects among adolescents attending adolescent friendly health clinic (AFHC) at Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 187 adolescents from January to March 2023 at AFHC of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata selected by systematic random sampling technique. Pre-designed self-administered questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Factors associated with the duration of smartphone usage were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Results: Smartphone was used by all the study participants (n = 187). A significant proportion has utilized smartphones for >3-year duration, whereas 114 (60.9%) used them for 1–2 h per day and 56 (29.9%) used them for ?3 h per day. The major adverse health impacts of smartphone usage perceived by the participants were eye symptoms (64.2%), headache (50.8%), and neck pain (46.5%). Gender (?2=12.98, df = 2, P = 0.0012), type of residence (?2 = 7.98, df = 2, P = 0.018), and socioeconomic status (?2 = 34.96, df = 2, P < 0.001) were factors significantly associated with the duration of smartphone usage per day. Conclusion: Smartphone should be optimized to protect the physical and mental well-being of adolescents. Motivation and counselling regarding the adverse effects of smartphone usage is should be given the utmost priority. Generating awareness among parents at the community level through field health workers is also the need of the hour.
RESUMO
Background: A lot of comorbid conditions and health problems result from unhealthy dietary habit and sedentary lifestyle in all age group, but more among geriatric population. Due to progressive fragility, weakness, and comorbidities, there is gradual decrease in overall physical activity in elderly which again leads to different health problems and this vicious cycle is going on. There was scarcity of evidences related to dietary pattern and physical activity of elderly population particularly in West Bengal. Aim and Objectives: The present study was conducted for estimating the physical activity level of the study participants and to determine its relationship with the sociodemographic profile and dietary consumption pattern. Materials and Methods: Observational descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in Geriatric Outpatient Department of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, from August 1, 2022, to October 31, 2022, among 124 participants aged 60 years and above attended OPD in first 2 months of study period. IPAQ-SF questionnaire was used for assessment of physical activity. Analysis was done in Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 20) software. Results: Larger proportion (52.4%) participants belonged to HEPA active (Category 3) according to physical activity status. Age of the participant, place of residence and socioeconomic status and consumption of green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, flesh food and egg, milk and milk products, and sugar and jaggery were significantly associated with physical activity. Conclusion: In the present study, significant proportion (32.3%) was minimally active which should be dealt properly. Physical activity should be promoted to all elder persons as a part of healthy lifestyle.
RESUMO
Background: In addition to risk of developing different non-communicable diseases, chronic diseases, and disabilities with increases of age, elderly people are more likely to suffer from mental and psychological distress and sleep disturbances which are again very much related to other physical problems of elderly. However, these two issues are often neglected and also were not addressed by research work adequately. Aims and Objectives: In above backdrop, our present study was conducted to determine sleep pattern and perceived stress among elderly population and their relationship with sociodemographic parameters. Materials and Methods: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Geriatric Outpatient Department (OPD) of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, from August to October 2022, among 161 geriatric OPD patients. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for eliciting sociodemographic information. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and perceived stress scale were used for assessing sleep quality and perceived stress of participants respectively. Data were analyzed in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 20). Results: About 41.2% participants suffered from poor sleep pattern. About 41.2% of geriatric participants had low level of stress and rest had moderate stress. Age and marital status were significantly associated with both sleep pattern and perceived stress. Socioeconomic status was related to sleep score, whereas perceived stress was associated with education of elderly participants. Conclusion: Poor quality of sleep and stress has an impact on other physical health problems of elderly such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Hence, awareness generation among general population and provision of adequate management in elderly health clinics regarding these two issues is required.