Effects of computer use on upper limb musculoskeletal disorders and function in academicians.

Objectives. This study aimed to investigate the effects of academician's demographic characteristics and computer usage habits on upper limb musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and function. Methods. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 100 academicians. Data were collected using questionnaires, which included the patient-rated wrist evaluation questionnaire - Turkish version (PRWE-T), the Cornell musculoskeletal discomfort questionnaire - Turkish version (CMDQ-T), the upper extremity functional index - Turkish version (UEFI-T), demographic characteristics and average daily computer usage time. Results. A low-level significant correlation was found between the age of the individuals and the CMDQ-T forearm (p = 0.044; r = 0.202) and CMDQ-T wrist (p = 0.001; r = 0.337) scores. Women had higher CMDQ-T neck scores and lower UEFI-T scores than men (p < 0.05). Academicians who used computers for 6 h a day or more had higher PRWE-T and CMDQ-T neck, shoulder, upper arm and forearm scores, and had a lower UEFI-T score (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Neck, shoulder, upper arm and forearm symptoms were higher and upper extremity function was impaired in academicians who used computers for 6 h a day or more. Besides, gender and age were associated with upper limb MSDs and function, but occupation duration did not affect those outcomes in academicians.

Technology Use Among Older Adults and Their Caregivers: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Background: Informal caregivers are called upon to provide substantial care, but more needs to be known about technology use among older adult and caregiver dyads. Objective: This study described technology use among older adults and their caregivers, explored potential correlates of technology use, and highlighted implications for practice. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among unpaid caregivers of older adults (n=486). Primary outcomes were self-reported technology (devices and functions) use among caregivers and their oldest care recipient. The concordance of technology use among caregivers and care recipients was also examined. Multivariable regression models were conducted separately for caregivers and care recipients. Results: Greater proportions of caregivers used all examined technologies, except for the medication alerts or tracking function, than care recipients. Caregivers used an average of 3.4 devices and 4.2 functions, compared to 1.8 devices and 1.6 functions used by their care recipients. Among caregivers, younger age, higher income, and higher education were associated with more technology use (P<.05). Among care recipients, younger age, not having cognitive dysfunction, and caregiver's technology use were associated with more technology use (P<.05). Conclusions: Understanding technology use patterns and device adoption across diverse caregiver and care recipient populations is increasingly important for enhancing geriatric care. Findings can guide recommendations about appropriate technology interventions and help providers communicate and share information more effectively with patients and their caregivers.

Prevalence of dry eye disease among IT students in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye disease (DED) is a common tear film disorder caused by decreased tear production or increased tear evaporation. The increased use of computers in the workplace has brought about the development of ocular health concerns, including dry eye disease. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the prevalence of DED associated with computer work and recommend preventing or reducing its development. This study investigated the prevalence of DED among IT students in Dera Ghazi Khan. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 327 undergraduate students of the IT department in the district of Dera Ghazi khan over 5 months from September 2021 to January 2022. DED was assessed subjectively with Ocular Surface Disease Index. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. The quantitative analysis was presented as mean and standard deviation, and qualitative variables were introduced in frequency and percentages. The chi-square test (Fisher's exact test) was used to study the significance of associations between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 20.25 ± 1.305 years (range 17-25). The prevalence of DED among computer programmers was 47.7%. This study showed that gender (p = 0.31), contact lens usage (p = 0.64), and duration of time spent on computer display units (p = 0.47) were not significant determinants of DED among computer programmers. CONCLUSION: DED is prevalent among IT students, along with different symptoms. However, further studies are required to adequately measure the prevalence of DED during longer exposure time to computer screens and explore environmental risk factors.

A Mendelian randomization study on causal effects of leisure sedentary behavior on the risk of erectile dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction has been associated with leisure sedentary behavior in several epidemiological and observational studies. However, the interpretation of these findings is difficult due to residual confounding or reverse causality. OBJECTIVES: To explore the causal association between leisure sedentary behavior and erectile dysfunction, and to explore the underlying mechanism using Mendelian randomization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, publicly available large-scale genome-wide association studies of leisure sedentary behaviors (television watching, computer use, and driving), erectile dysfunction, sex hormones (total testosterone, bioactive testosterone, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and sex hormone binding globulin), biomarkers of endothelial function (C reactive protein, E-selectin, and matrix metalloproteinase 7), and psychiatric symptoms (depression and anxiety) were used to perform two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses. The inverse variance weighting method was the main method used to estimate the association, and sensitivity analyses were also performed. RESULTS: A greater risk of erectile dysfunction was significantly associated with a higher genetic susceptibility to leisure computer usage (odds ratio = 3.57; 95% confidence interval = 1.78-7.16; p < 0.001). No evidence was obtained to suggest that watching television or driving for leisure increased the risk of erectile dysfunction. No association was found between computer use and depression, anxiety, C reactive protein, E-selectin, matrix metalloproteinase 7, or other sex hormones, with the exception of follicle-stimulating hormone levels (odds ratio = 0.29; 95% confidence interval = 0.12-0.69; p = 0.01). No indication of heterogeneity or pleiotropy was identified by sensitivity analysis. DISCUSSION: Extended computer usage for leisure raised the likelihood of developing erectile dysfunction, which may be associated to lower follicle-stimulating hormone levels; however, the role of endothelial dysfunction and psychological disorders in the development of erectile dysfunction should not be underestimated. Moderate physical activity may help to correct the dysfunction. CONCLUSION: The present study offered substantial evidence for a positive causal association between computer use and the risk of erectile dysfunction. However, a definitive causal association needs to be established by further research.

Computer Vision Syndrome Among the General Population in the Eastern Region of Libya: Prevalence and Risk Factors.

Aim To assess the prevalence and determine the risk factors of computer vision syndrome among the general population in the Eastern region of Libya. Methods This study used a descriptive cross-sectional design and comprised a random sample of 407 Libyan adults from Eastern Libya. Data were collected using an online-based questionnaire. Statistical analysis of all the datasets was performed using SPSS software, version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results The mean age of the participants was 32.1 years (SD=12.8), and most participants 281 (69%) were female. As for employment status, 261 (64.1%) were students, 70 (17.2%) were non-healthcare workers, and 46 (11.3%) were healthcare workers. The majority of participants, 353 (86.7%), used a computer seven days a week, with 187 (45.9%) of those participants using a computer for over six hours daily. Over one-third of participants, 157 (38.6%), had computer vision syndrome. Being over 45 years of age, being a student, and using a computer for over six hours a day were the main factors associated with computer vision syndrome. Neck pain was the most commonly reported complaint in 235 (57.5%). Conclusion Increased use of electronic devices is leading to a higher prevalence of computer vision syndrome. Our study emphasizes the need to raise awareness regarding computer vision syndrome among the general public and medical professionals.

Understanding the Tensions of "Good Motherhood" Through Women's Digital Technology Use: Descriptive Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that expectant and new mothers consult and value information gathered from digital technologies, such as pregnancy-specific mobile apps and social media platforms, to support their transition to parenting. Notably, this transitional context can be rich with profound physiological, psychological, and emotional fluctuation for women as they cope with the demands of new parenting and navigate the cultural expectations of "good motherhood." Given the ways in which digital technologies can both support and hinder women's perceptions of their parenting abilities, understanding expectant and new mothers' experiences using digital technologies and the tensions that may arise from such use during the transition to parenting period warrants nuanced exploration. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to understand mothers' use of digital technologies during the transition to parenting period. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted in a predominantly urban region of Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Purposive and snowball sampling strategies were implemented to recruit participants who had become a parent within the previous 24 months. Researchers conducted focus groups using a semistructured interview guide with 26 women. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. RESULTS: Participants' experiences of using digital technologies in the transition to parenting period were captured within the overarching theme "balancing the tensions of digital technology use in the transition to parenting" and 4 subthemes: self-comparison on social media, second-guessing parenting practices, communities of support, and trusting intuition over technology. Although digital technologies purportedly offered "in-the-moment" access to community support and health information, this came at a cost to mothers, as they described feelings of guilt, shame, and self-doubt that provoked them to question and hold in contention whether they were a good mother and using technology in a morally upright manner. CONCLUSIONS: These findings raise critical questions concerning the promotion and commercialization of digital technologies and the ways in which they can further push the boundaries of hegemonic parenting practices, provoke feelings of inadequacy, and compromise well-being among expectant and new mothers.

Leisure-Time Television Viewing and Computer Use, Family History, and Incidence of Dementia.

INTRODUCTION: Time spent on screen-based sedentary activities is significantly associated with dementia risk, however, whether the associations vary by family history (FHx) of dementia is currently unknown. We aimed to examine independent associations of two prevalent types of screen-based sedentary activities (television [TV] viewing and computer use) with dementia and assess the modifying effect of FHx. METHODS: We included 415,048 individuals free of dementia from the UK Biobank. Associations of TV viewing, computer use, and FHx with dementia risk were determined using Cox regression models. We estimated both multiplicative- and additive-scale interactions between TV viewing and computer use and FHx. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 12.6 years, 5,549 participants developed dementia. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, we observed that moderate (2-3 h/day; hazard ratio [HR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval 0.03-1.23) and high (>3 h/day; 1.33, 1.21-1.46) TV viewing was associated with a higher dementia risk, compared with low (0-1 h/day) TV viewing. Using restricted cubic spline models, the relationship of TV viewing with dementia was nonlinear (relative to 0 h/day; p for nonlinear = 0.005). We found that >3 h/day of TV viewing was associated with a 42% (1.42, 1.18-1.71) higher dementia risk in participants with FHx while a 30% (1.30, 1.17-1.45) in those without FHx. For computer use, both low (0 h/day; 1.41, 1.33-1.50) and high (>2 h/day; 1.17, 1.05-1.29) computer use were associated with elevated dementia risk, compared with moderate (1-2 h/day) computer use. We observed a J-shaped relationship with dementia (relative to 2 h/day; p for nonlinear <0.001). Compared with 1-2 h/day of computer use, the HRs of dementia were 1.46 (1.29-1.65) and 1.10 (0.90-1.36) for 0 h/day and >2 h/day of computer use in participants with FHx, respectively, while the corresponding HRs were 1.40 (1.30-1.50) and 1.19 (1.06-1.33) in those without FHx. We observed a positive additive interaction (RERI 0.29, 0.06-0.53) between computer use and FHx, while little evidence of interaction between TV viewing and FHx. CONCLUSIONS: The time spent on TV viewing and computer use were independent risk factors for dementia, and the adverse effects of computer use and FHx were additive. Our findings point to new behavioral targets for intervention on preventing an early onset of dementia, especially for those with FHx.

Orthopedic Resident and Patient Perception of Electronic Medical Record Use During the Clinic Visit.

Background The transition from paper charts to electronic medical records (EMRs) has resulted in greater efficiency and reduced medical errors. This study aimed to examine the perception of patients and orthopedic residents regarding computer use during the clinic visit. Methodology This study utilized a cross-sectional cluster design. Orthopedic resident physicians were given a one-time general pre-visit survey. Additional surveys were given to patients and resident physicians post-visit. Surveys included questions that assessed satisfaction and the perceived impact of computer usage on doctor-patient interactions. Logistic generalized estimating equations were run to determine if there was an association between patient response and clinician assessment, adjusting for repeated measures within clinicians. Results A total of 80 patients and 15 residents completed the surveys. Results from the physician pre-visit survey showed that more residents perceived the computer as having a "negative" (47%) than "positive" (26%) effect on their relationship with patients. According to the post-visit analysis, patients perceived the residents' use of the EMR as having an overall positive effect on their ability to establish a personal connection and having a positive effect on their ability to give them attention. Conclusions Overall, there was little correlation between patient and resident perception of the computer's effect on their relationship. Patients generally perceived the computer as having a positive effect on their interaction with the residents even when residents had a negative perception of the computer's effect on their interaction.

Nursing Students' Computer Anxiety and Attitudes Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose of this research was to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the level of computer anxiety of nursing students and also their attitude related to computer use. A cross-sectional study was conducted in two periods, one before the COVID-19 pandemic (1st period) and the second during the COVID-19 pandemic (2nd period). The research instrument consisted of three parts, a questionnaire with questions about demographic and educational characteristics such as gender and semester of study, the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale (CARS), that used to assess the nursing students' levels of computer anxiety and the Computer Attitude Scale (CAS) that used to measure nursing students' positive and negative attitudes towards computers. Data from 957 undergraduate nursing students were obtained. Specifically, in the 1st period, 370 nursing students participated (38.66%), while in the 2nd period 587 (61.34%) undergraduates participated. The anxiety of participants during COVID-19 pandemic period was reduced compared to that of participants before the COVID-19 period. Respondents during the COVID-19 pandemic have fewer negative feelings towards computers, based on their answers in contrast to the participants in the study before the COVID-19 pandemic. Computer anxiety and attitudes have change among nursing students among COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing students after the implementation of online training are reporting positive feeling towards computer use and are more confident for their ICT skills.

Variations in Concurrent Validity of Two Independent Inertial Measurement Units Compared to Gold Standard for Upper Body Posture during Computerised Device Use.

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) may provide an objective method for measuring posture during computer use, but research is needed to validate IMUs' accuracy. We examine the concurrent validity of two different IMU systems in measuring three-dimensional (3D) upper body posture relative to a motion capture system (Mocap) as a potential device to assess postures outside a laboratory environment. We used 3D Mocap and two IMU systems (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) to capture the upper body posture of twenty-six individuals during three physical computer working conditions (monitor correct, monitor raised, and laptop). Coefficient of determination (R2) and root-mean-square error (RMSE) compared IMUs to Mocap. Head/neck segment [HN], upper trunk segment [UTS], and joint angle [HN-UTS] were the primary variables. Wi-Fi IMUs demonstrated high validity for HN and UTS (sagittal plane) and HN-UTS (frontal plane) for all conditions, and for HN rotation movements (both for the monitor correct and monitor raised conditions), others moderate to poor. Bluetooth IMUs for HN, and UTS (sagittal plane) for the monitor correct, laptop, and monitor raised conditions were moderate. Frontal plane movements except UTS (monitor correct and laptop) and all rotation had poor validity. Both IMU systems were affected by gyroscopic drift with sporadic data loss in Bluetooth IMUs. Wi-Fi IMUs had more acceptable accuracy when measuring upper body posture during computer use compared to Mocap, except for trunk rotations. Variation in IMU systems' performance suggests validation in the task-specific movement(s) is essential.

Conceptualizing and Measuring Social Media Use in Health and Well-being Studies: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Despite an increasing number of studies revealing both the benefits and harms of social media use on well-being, there is heterogeneity and a lack of consensus on how social media use is conceptualized, defined, and measured. Additionally, little is known whether existing literature focuses on ill-being or well-being outcomes and whether studies use theories. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this review was to examine (1) how social media use has been conceptualized and measured, (2) what health and well-being outcomes have been focused on, and (3) whether studies used theories. METHODS: Studies were located through a comprehensive search strategy involving 4 steps. First, keyword searches were conducted on 6 major databases: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, ProQuest, and Annual Reviews. Second, a search was conducted on Google Scholar using the same sets of search terms, and the first 100 results were examined. Third, the reference sections of reviews identified in the first 2 rounds of searches were examined, and finally, the reference lists of the final set of papers included in the review were searched. Through a multistage screening, papers that met our inclusion criteria were analyzed. RESULTS: The review included a total of 233 papers published between 2007 and 2020 in 51 different countries. While 66 (28%) of the studies investigated the effects of the problematic use or addiction of social media on health and well-being, 167 (72%) studied the effects of social media use as a "normal" behavior. Most of the studies used measures assessing the time users spend using social media. Most of the studies that examined the effects of problematic social media use or addiction used addiction scales. Most studies examined the association of social media use with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and loneliness. While there are a considerable number of studies investigating physical health outcomes such as self-rated health, sleep, and sitting time or lack of physical activity, relatively a small number of studies examined social, psychological, and emotional well-being. Most of the studies 183 (79%) did not use any theory. CONCLUSIONS: Most studies conceptualized social media use as a "normal" behavior and mostly used time-spent measures, whereas a considerable number of studies conceptualized social media use as an addiction and used various addiction measures. The studies disproportionately focused on investigating the associations of social media use with negative health and well-being outcomes. The findings suggest the need for going beyond time spent to more sophisticated measurement approaches that consider the multiplicity of activities that users perform on social media platforms and the need for more theory-based studies on the association of social media use with not only negative well-being or "ill-being" but also with positive health and well-being outcomes.

The Longitudinal Impact of Social Media Use on UK Adolescents' Mental Health: Longitudinal Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies have found a relationship between social media use and depression and anxiety in young people. However, few longitudinal studies using representative data and mediation analysis have been conducted to understand the causal pathways of this relationship. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the longitudinal relationship between social media use and young people's mental health and the role of self-esteem and social connectedness as potential mediators. METHODS: The sample included 3228 participants who were 10- to 15-year-olds from Understanding Society (2009-2019), a UK longitudinal household survey. The number of hours spent on social media was measured on a 5-point scale from "none" to "7 or more hours" at the ages of 12-13 years. Self-esteem and social connectedness (number of friends and happiness with friendships) were measured at the ages of 13-14 years. Mental health problems measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were assessed at the ages of 14-15 years. Covariates included demographic and household variables. Unadjusted and adjusted multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the association between social media use and mental health. We used path analysis with structural equation modeling to investigate the mediation pathways. RESULTS: In adjusted analysis, there was a nonsignificant linear trend showing that more time spent on social media was related to poorer mental health 2 years later (n=2603, ß=.21, 95% CI −0.43 to 0.84; P=.52). In an unadjusted path analysis, 68% of the effect of social media use on mental health was mediated by self-esteem (indirect effect, n=2569, ß=.70, 95% CI 0.15-1.30; P=.02). This effect was attenuated in the adjusted analysis, and it was found that self-esteem was no longer a significant mediator (indirect effect, n=2316, ß=.24, 95% CI −0.12 to 0.66; P=.22). We did not find evidence that the association between social media and mental health was mediated by social connectedness. Similar results were found in imputed data. CONCLUSIONS: There was little evidence to suggest that more time spent on social media was associated with later mental health problems in UK adolescents. This study shows the importance of longitudinal studies to examine this relationship and suggests that prevention strategies and interventions to improve mental health associated with social media use could consider the role of factors like self-esteem.

Prevalence and risk factors for self-reported symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome among hospital office workers: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives. We aimed to determine the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and associated risk factors among hospital office workers. Methods. This cross-sectional study was carried out between May and August 2021 with office workers actively working in a hospital in Izmir, Turkey. The Boston carpal tunnel syndrome questionnaire was used to evaluate the severity of self-reported CTS symptoms and their effect on the functional status of the participants. Results. The study included 151 people, 68.2% of whom were women. CTS symptoms were reported by 74.1% of the participants, the majority of whom (73.2%) were women. These reported symptoms were mild in 43%, moderate in 24.5%, severe in 5.3% and very severe in 1.3%. Significant differences were found between those with and without CTS symptoms regarding age, body mass index, previous diagnosis of CTS, daily work hours, using a wrist-supported mousepad and perceived workload (p < 0.05). Conclusion. CTS symptoms of office workers in the hospital were associated with occupational characteristics as well as individual factors. These risk factors should be taken into account while planning for future preventive and interventional measures in workplaces.

A comparison of muscle activity, posture and body discomfort during the use of different computer screen sizes.

This study aims to compare changes in neck angles, muscle activities, ergonomic risk and body discomfort caused by use of two different computer screen sizes. The 36 female users who participated used displays with 46.99 and 58.42-cm screen sizes and were assessed for craniocervical angle (CCA), craniovertebral angle (CVA), upper trapezius (UT) and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle activity, ergonomic risk and body discomfort for a duration of 1 h. The results showed there were no significant differences when comparing usage between both computer screen sizes (p > 0.05). However, there were significant differences in the CCA, UT muscle activity and body discomfort when comparing before and after usage for both computer screen sizes (p < 0.05). The results indicate that computer users can select different screen sizes for working but should be concerned with neck angle, muscle activity and body discomfort when using for long periods of time.

Assessment of non-directed computer-use behaviours in the home can indicate early cognitive impairment: A proof of principle longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: Computer-use behaviours can provide useful information about an individual's cognitive and functional abilities. However, little research has evaluated unaided and non-directed home computer-use. In this proof of principle study, we explored whether computer-use behaviours recorded during routine home computer-use i) could discriminate between individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI); ii) were associated with cognitive and functional scores; and iii) changed over time. METHODS: Thirty-two participants with SCD (n = 18) or MCI (n = 14) (mean age = 72.53 years; female n = 19) participated in a longitudinal study in which their in-home computer-use behaviour was passively recorded over 7-9 months. Cognitive and functional assessments were completed at three time points: baseline; mid-point (4.5 months); and end point (month 7 to 9). RESULTS: Individuals with MCI had significantly slower keystroke speed and spent less time on the computer than individuals with SCD. More time spent on the computer was associated with better task switching abilities. Faster keystroke speed was associated with better visual attention, recall, recognition, task inhibition, and task switching. No significant change in computer-use behaviour was detected over the study period. CONCLUSION: Passive monitoring of computer-use behaviour shows potential as an indicator of cognitive abilities, and can differentiate between people with SCD and MCI. Future studies should attempt to monitor computer-use behaviours over a longer time period to capture the onset of cognitive decline, and thus could inform timely therapeutic interventions.Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2022.2036946.

Different types of screen time are associated with low life satisfaction in adolescents across 37 European and North American countries.

AIMS: Prolonged screen time (ST) is a potential concern for poor wellbeing. This study aimed to examine the associations of different types of ST with life satisfaction among adolescents. METHODS: Data were from 380,446 adolescents (aged 11-15 years, 51% girls) across 37 European and North American countries who completed the 2010 and 2014 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children surveys. Participants reported h/day during free time spent on television, electronic games, and computer/other devices. Life satisfaction was assessed using a 10-point scale (low life satisfaction ⩽5). RESULTS: Generalized additive modelling showed non-linear associations for each ST type, with low life satisfaction increasing monotonically for >1 h/day of electronic gaming or computer/other device and >2 h/day of watching television. Multilevel multivariable modelling showed that >4 h/day of watching television was associated with 26% higher odds for boys (OR 1.26; 95% CI:1.21-1.32) and 52% higher odds for girls (1.52; 1.46-1.59) of low life satisfaction than for ⩽1 h/day of television. Electronic gaming >4 h/day was associated with low life satisfaction with odds 42% higher in boys (1.42, 1.36-1.48) and 69% higher in girls (1.69, 1.61-1.76). A similar association was found for >4 h/day of computer/other device for boys (1.43, 1.37-1.49) and girls (1.71, 1.65-1.77). CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of ST may be beneficial; however, prolonged periods are associated with low life satisfaction among adolescents, in particular among girls. Results support ⩽2 h/day restriction of ST and highlight research is needed to understand underlying mechanisms of ST and wellbeing, which may not reflect active versus passive content.

Self-reported Computer Vision Syndrome Among Bank Workers in Onitsha, Nigeria.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the awareness, prevalence, and pattern of ocular problems related to computer [computer vision syndrome (CVS)] use among bank workers in Onitsha, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving bank staff in Onitsha metropolis who were selected using a simple random technique. A validated CVS questionnaire was used to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics, frequency and duration of computer use, eye symptoms, and preventive measures. Results: There were 150 bank staff selected: 81 (54.0%) females and 69 (46.0%) males, aged 20-49 years (mean= 33.2 ± 7.2 years). All participants used computer daily. Daily computer use was 1-16 h. Seventy-nine (53.4%) workers were aware of CVS; 127 (84.7%) used preventive measures which included anti-reflective eye glasses (12.7%) and computer screen guard (22.3%). Symptoms with computer use were reported by 103 (68.7%) participants. The prevalence of CVS was 29.3%. Headache (45.4%), itching (38.6%), photophobia (38.0%), visual blur (37.3%), and eye pains (28.0%) were the commonest symptoms. There was a trend towards CVS being commoner in female gender (P = 0.059), with prolonged computer use, and failure to use preventive measures. CVS is 6-fold more likely to occur in individuals who wear corrective lenses. Conclusion: CVS is common among the bank workers studied. Use of protective measures that minimize exposure to electromagnetic force radiation from computer screens is suggested. A computer screen guard is recommended as a minimum preventive measure for long-term computer users.

Objective Assessment of the Nature and Extent of Children's Internet-Based World: Protocol for the Kids Online Aotearoa Study.

BACKGROUND: Children under 18 years of age account for approximately 1 in 3 internet users worldwide. Largely unregulated, the internet-based world is evolving rapidly and becoming increasingly intrusive. There is a dearth of objective research globally on children's real-time experiences of the internet-based world. OBJECTIVE: This paper reports an objective methodology to study the nature and extent of children's internet-based world, their engagement with it, and how this impacts their health and well-being. METHODS: A total of 180 year 8 students from 12 schools will be recruited into the study within the Wellington region of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Children use Zoom video teleconferencing software to record real-time, screen-shared internet-based content, for 4 consecutive days. Data on demographics, health and well-being, and attitudes and perceived behaviors in relation to the internet-based world are collected. Phone screen-time balances are retrieved. Data collection commenced in June 2021 and is anticipated to be completed in 2023. RESULTS: Recordings show children exploring diverse web-based settings and content, including personalized content curated by algorithms on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Preliminary analysis shows that the data can be used to study a wide range of topics. Behavioral Observation Research Interaction Software is being used to manually code recordings. Artificial Intelligence techniques are also being applied, including hashtag extraction, optical character recognition, as well as object, pattern, speech, and lyric recognition. CONCLUSIONS: This novel methodology reveals the unique internet-based experiences of children. It is underpinned by a commitment to ensuring that their rights are protected. It seeks to provide concrete evidence on internet usage in this group and to facilitate appropriate political and societal action to effectively regulate the internet-based world to prevent harm to children. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/39017.

A Prospective Study on the Relationship Between Driving and Non-occupational Computer Use With Risk of Dementia.

Sedentary behaviors have been associated with the risk of dementia in older adults. Whether driving and computer use are associated with the risk of dementia in older adults is an important research question. The participants of a longitudinal cohort study that included European middle- and old-aged adults at the baseline (2006-2010) who had not been diagnosed with dementia before 5 years after the baseline and had not died within 5 years after the baseline were followed up (until 2018) and analyzed. The associations between driving and non-occupational computer use time measured by the questionnaire at the baseline and incident dementia 5 years after the baseline were analyzed after correcting for confounding variables. Each analysis included approximately 370,000 participants and 1,000 cases. According to Cox proportional hazard models that divide subjects into four groups of habit duration levels [(a) 0 h; (b) less than 1 h, 1 h; (c), 2 h, 3 h; (d) 4 h or more, per/day)], the group with 0 h < driving time ≤1 h at the baseline exhibited a significantly lower risk of incident dementia than the other groups. In addition, in the analysis of non-occupational computer use duration, the 0 h group exhibited a significantly higher risk than the other groups. Our results indicate that different sedentary behaviors have different associations with dementia risk over time and have no simple dose-response relationship with dementia risk. The sedentary behavior risk assessments must consider these factors.

Genetic susceptibility, screen-based sedentary activities and incidence of coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Whether the associations of time spent in screen-based sedentary activities with CHD vary by genetic susceptibility is currently unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the interplay of genetic susceptibility to CHD and two prevalent types of screen-based sedentary activities (television [TV] viewing and computer use) for CHD incidence. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 373,026 individuals of European ancestry without prevalent CHD/stroke from UK Biobank data. Genetic susceptibility to CHD was assessed using weighted polygenic risk scores, calculated by summing the number of risk-increasing alleles among 300 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, multiplied by their corresponding effect estimates. TV viewing and computer use were assessed through touch-screen questionnaires. CHD incidence (n=9185) was adjudicated over a median 12.6-year follow-up. RESULTS: Compared with ≥4h/day of TV viewing, the hazard ratio of CHD was 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-0.90) and 0.94 (0.90-0.99) for ≤1h/day and 2-3h/day of TV viewing, respectively, after adjusting for confounders including the genetic risk. CHD hazards were higher for medium and high genetic risk than for low genetic risk. Across all levels of genetic risk including high-genetic risk, ≤1h/day of TV viewing had lower CHD hazards, compared with ≥4h/day: no evidence of interaction between genetic risk and TV viewing (p value: 0.362). Estimates of the population attributable fraction (PAF) suggested that 10.9% (95% CI 6.1-15.3%) of CHD could be prevented if TV viewing time were reduced to ≤1h/day, assuming causality. The PAF values were relatively larger for medium-to-high genetic risk than for low genetic risk, although the CIs were wide and overlapping. No associations were observed for computer use. CONCLUSIONS: Less TV viewing time was associated with lower CHD risk independently of genetic risk. Clinical trials targeted at individuals with high genetic susceptibility should consider reducing TV viewing as as a behavioural target for prevention of an early onset of cardiovascular events.