DAILY EXCESSIVE USE OF SMARTPHONE, LEADS TO EXAGGERATED HAND SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AS CHECKED BY BOSTON CARPAL TUNNEL QUESTIONNAIRE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: The usage of smartphone (SP) has dramatically increased among young University students for their daily work and social media connect. It affects hand functions, and the present study was aimed at checking for chronicity of SP use and its effect on hand function. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design N=150 university students in the age group of 18-35 years were involved, after taking informed consent. They were using smartphone chronically (>12 months minimum). Hand functions were checked using Smartphone addiction scale (SAS) and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ). To check the effect of chronicity the participants were grouped based on daily usage (3-6hrs; 6-9hrs &>9hrs per day of SP use), and usage over a period of months (12-60 months; 60-120 months &>120 months of SP use). One-way ANOVA was used to check significant difference taking p=0.05 as the level of significance. Results: For all participants Mean values were SAS = 22.63 ± 4.075, BCTQ FSS = 11.41 ± 3.784, BCTQ SSS= 15.053 ± 4.32. Significant differences were seen in daily usage of SP on BCTQ FSS (p=0.00097 & f ratio=5.73) and BCTQ SSS (p=0.032 &f ratio=2.99). ANOVA for SAS was significant (p<0.05) for daily usage groups but not for usage over a period of months. Conclusion: Excessive daily usage of smartphone for more than 3 hours,chronically leads to hand symptoms amongUniversity students, and it is addictive as seen here, however chronicity of use over months in non-addictive. It has implications during daily extended uses like working on SP for official work and gaming.