Public Health Department, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Public Health Department, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
PeerJ. 2024 Nov 14;12:e18423. doi: 10.7717/peerj.18423. eCollection 2024.
The increased utilization of digital screens is an unavoidable consequence of the technology era. Digital eye strain (DES) is a prevalent health problem among higher education students in Saudi Arabia, especially health sciences students due to the frequent use of digital sources and virtual classes. Thus, this study aimed to assess the severity of digital eye strain syndrome (DESS) symptoms and preventive ergonomic practices among higher education health science students in Saudi Arabia.
A cross-sectional study using multistage cluster sampling in three cities (Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah) in Saudi Arabia. A convenient sample of 328 health science students was selected using an equal allocation technique. The researchers designed and used an online survey of three sections: personal and digital device use-related data, the DESS questionnaire, and the self-reported preventive ergonomic practices scale.
DESS is a widespread problem among 72.0% of health science students, and 58.2% had unsatisfactory ergonomics. The frequently reported symptoms were blurred vision (32.9%) and increased sensitivity to light (33.5%). The severe eye-related symptoms were headache (45.85%), foreign body inside the eye (43.71%), eye burning (40.19%), and dryness (39.76%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the female sex, years of screen utilization and the number of hours per day, screen use without rest, and frequency of virtual classes per week, eye disease, digital screen utilization for studying, nonuse of protective eye measures, and using numerous digital devices were significant predictors of DESS risk ( < 0.05).
DESS is a common problem among many health science students, with headaches and foreign body sensations in the eye being the most frequent symptoms. Screen utilization time and eye disease are significant predictors of DESS, while most items' application of ergonomic practices was low. Educational programs are needed to increase student's awareness of ergonomic practices.
数字屏幕的广泛使用是技术时代不可避免的结果。在沙特阿拉伯，数字眼疲劳（DES）是高等教育学生中普遍存在的健康问题，尤其是健康科学专业的学生，因为他们经常使用数字资源和虚拟课程。因此，本研究旨在评估沙特阿拉伯高等教育健康科学专业学生数字眼疲劳综合征（DESS）症状的严重程度和预防人体工程学实践。
本研究采用多阶段聚类抽样，在沙特阿拉伯的三个城市（达曼、利雅得、吉达）进行了一项横断面研究。使用均等分配技术，选择了 328 名健康科学专业学生进行方便抽样。研究人员设计并使用了一个包含三个部分的在线调查：个人和数字设备使用相关数据、DESS 问卷和自我报告的预防人体工程学实践量表。
72.0%的健康科学专业学生存在 DESS 问题，58.2%的学生存在不理想的人体工程学问题。报告频率较高的症状包括视力模糊（32.9%）和对光敏感度增加（33.5%）。严重的眼部相关症状包括头痛（45.85%）、眼内异物感（43.71%）、眼睛灼烧感（40.19%）和眼睛干燥感（39.76%）。Logistic 回归分析显示，女性、屏幕使用年限和每天使用时间、无休息使用屏幕、每周虚拟课程频率、眼部疾病、使用数字屏幕进行学习、不使用护眼措施以及使用多种数字设备是 DESS 风险的显著预测因素（<0.05）。
DESS 是许多健康科学专业学生中常见的问题，头痛和眼睛异物感是最常见的症状。屏幕使用时间和眼部疾病是 DESS 的显著预测因素，而大多数人体工程学实践项目的应用率较低。需要开展教育项目来提高学生对人体工程学实践的认识。
