Internet Addiction Effect on Quality of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: Due to the use of different methodologies, tools, and measurements, the positive or negative impact of Internet use on human life quality is accompanied by a series of ambiguities and uncertainties. Therefore, in this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis are conducted regarding the effect of Internet addiction on the quality of life. METHODS: A systematic search of resources was conducted to investigate the effect of Internet addiction on the quality of life. The databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Science Direct were searched from January 1980 to July 2020. The articles were screened by two researchers in multiple levels in terms of the title, abstract, and full-text; then, final studies that met the inclusion criteria were retrieved and included in the study. RESULTS: After searching the previously mentioned international databases, 3863 papers were found, 18 of which we included in the final analysis. Surveys indicated that people who had a high Internet addiction received lower scores of quality of life than those who were normal Internet users (OR = 2.45, 95% CI; 2.31-2.61, p < 0.001; I 2 = 85.23%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, There was a negative significant relationship between Internet addiction and quality of life in the psychological (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32-0.99, p=0.04, I 2 = 97.47%, p < 0.001), physical (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.39-0.86, p=0.007, I 2 = 95.29%, p=0.001), and overall quality of life score (OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.27-0.55, p < 0.001, I 2 = 0.0%, p=0.746). CONCLUSION: These findings illustrate that Internet addiction should be regarded as a major health concern and incorporated into health education and intervention initiatives.

The risk of hearing loss associated with occupational exposure to organic solvents mixture with and without concurrent noise exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study is a meta-analysis of the previous epidemiological studies which investigated the quantitative estimates of the association between independent or combined exposure to noise and mixed organic solvents and hearing loss until October 2014. Overall, 15 studies with information on 7530 individuals (6% female) were included. Having assessed - by puretone audiometry - the adjusted odds ratio estimates for the association between solvents mixture exposure and the risk of developing hearing loss stood at 2.05 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.44-2.9). Similarly, for subjects who were concurrently exposed to noise and solvents mixture, an OR of 2.95 (95% CI: 2.1-4.17) was obtained. There was some evidence of heterogeneity within each of the 2 exposure groups (p heterogeneity < 0.001). This heterogeneity was not explained by differences in strength of effect between duration of exposure, the number of solvent and exposure index in subgroups of solvents mixture exposure. Based on the available data, our analysis has provided the evidence of increased risk of developing hearing loss for workers exposed to organic solvents even at quite low concentration. Moreover, if such exposure is accompanied by noise, it will exacerbate the extent of hearing loss. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(4):521-535.