Use Of Digital Devices Research Articles

The Relationship Between Nurses' Digital Health Literacy and Their Educational Levels, Professional Roles, and Digital Attitudes: A Cluster Analysis Based on a Cross-Sectional Study.

The current study aimed to identify digital health literacy levels among nurses with respect to their education, role and attitude towards digital technologies. Cross-sectional study. Through convenience sampling, all Registered Nurses, managers/leaders and nurse researchers employed in Hospitals, University Hospitals and Districts were recruited and surveyed using an online questionnaire. The data collection tool assessed: (I) demographics, (II) Digital Health Literacy (DHL) with the Health Literacy Survey19 Digital (HLS19-DIGI) instrument including DHL dealing with digital health information (HL-DIGI), interaction with digital resources for health (HL-DIGI-INT) and use of digital devices for health (HL-DIGI-DD); (III) attitudes on the use of digital technologies in clinical practice. The multiple correspondence analysis was applied to identify three clusters for the education/professional role (A, B, C) and three for digital technologies' use (1, 2, 3). The one-way nonparametric analysis of variance (Kruskal-Wallis test) was applied to compare HL-DIGI, HL-DIGI-INT and the HL-DIGI-DD scores among clusters. Among 551 participants, the median scores of the HL-DIGI, the HL-DIGI-INT and the HL-DIGI-DD questionnaires were 70.2, 72 and 2.00, respectively. The distribution in the clusters 'educational/professional role' was A, (58.8%); B, (16.5%); and C, (24.7%). Nurses in a managerial or coordinator role and with a postgraduate degree used digital resources with greater frequency. The distribution in the clusters 'use of digital technologies' was: 1, (54.6%); 2, (12.2%); and 3, (33.2%). The HL-DIGI-DD and HL-DIGI scores of clusters 1, 2 and 3 differed significantly. DHL among nurses is strongly influenced by the education level, professional role, habits and attitude towards digital technologies. Nurses with coordinator roles used digital technologies with greater frequency and had a higher level of DHL. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines were used for reporting. No Patient or Public Contribution. Local Ethical Committee of the Polyclinic of Bari (code: DHL7454, date: 21/09/22).

Exploring Digital Proficiency Among Mothers of School-going Children in Kerala

Early exposure to social and digital media in this digital age greatly influences children’s lives, leading to an increasing number of parents and educators becoming concerned about the potential negative effects of excessive screen time. By investigating mothers’ digital competencies as informal educators, this study fills a significant research gap. The paper emphasises women as mentors, highlighting their responsibility to supervise and guide their children’s use of digital devices in an era of pervasive connectedness. Using a modified version of the DigCompEdu framework, the study focuses on two essential elements: empowering children; and fostering their understanding of digital competence areas. A thousand homemakers from two wards of the Kochi Corporation area in the Ernakulam district, Kerala, India are included in the study. Discriminant analysis is used to identify four important skill areas that demonstrate significant group differences – between Novice, Basic, Independent, and Proficient user groups. Results imply that tailoring digital literacy programs to mothers’ varying proficiency levels can enhance their ability to navigate digital parenting effectively. Additionally, integrating sociodemographic factors into interventions can ensure relevance and efficacy in addressing digital competence disparities among mothers.

The changing role of ICT-coordinators in schools: a longitudinal study

ABSTRACT As schools become more digitalized, teachers need strong skills in teaching, learning, and administration. Some teachers, known as ICT coordinators, play a key role in promoting digital technology use, acting as liaisons between management and teaching. This study, based on a literature review and interviews with Norwegian ICT coordinators over five years, found increasing diversity in their tasks and roles. With the rise of one-to-one digital device use (e.g., Chromebooks, iPads), the ICT coordinator’s role is expected to grow in importance. The study highlights the complexity of this role and its future development.

Perceptions and Satisfaction With the Use of Digital Medical Services in Urban Older Adults of China: Mixed Methods Study.

In an aging and information-driven society, older adults have distinct perceptions of and specific demands for digital medical services. It is essential for society to understand these needs and develop a more thoughtful approach to digital health care. This study aims to evaluate the behavioral intention and satisfaction of older adults with digital medical services by identifying the perceived factors and the pathways through which these factors influence their behavior. This study used a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses. A focus group interview was conducted with 30 randomly selected older adults, and the interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded using grounded theory. In addition, 876 valid questionnaires were collected to describe older adults' perceptions of and satisfaction with digital medical care. Then, t tests and ANOVA were used to explore differences among various demographic groups, while hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to identify the factors most closely related to satisfaction. Structural equation modeling was used to identify multiple mediating effects. The qualitative study identified the core category of "medical service relief and transformation paths for older adults in the context of digital reform." Quantitative analysis revealed that more than half of the older adults were satisfied with digital medical services, and behavioral intentions were higher among those with higher incomes and education levels. Structural equation modeling confirmed that external variables, such as digital skills training, positively influenced perceived ease of use (β=.594, P<.001), perceived usefulness (β=.544, P<.001), and promoted digital medical behavioral intentions (β=.256, P<.001), while also reducing perceived risk (β=-.295, P<.001). Additionally, perceived ease of use (β=.168, P<.001) and perceived usefulness (β=.508, P<.001) positively impacted behavioral intention, whereas perceived risk (β=-.05, P=.037) exerted a negative influence. Furthermore, behavioral intention (β=.641, P<.001) significantly and positively affected older adults' satisfaction with digital medical care. The mediation test identified 4 significant paths: (1) external variables → perceived ease of use → behavioral intention (effect size of 13.9%); (2) external variables → perceived usefulness → behavioral intention (effect size of 38.4%); (3) external variables → perceived ease of use → perceived usefulness → behavioral intention (effect size of 10.1%); and (4) a direct effect (35.5%) from external variables to behavioral intention. Based on the study's findings, addressing the needs of older adults and enhancing perceived usefulness are the most effective ways to encourage the use of digital health care devices. Community support plays a crucial role in helping older adults integrate into digital health care, and adapting the design of services and products to suit their needs improves their perceptions of digital health care. This, in turn, promotes usage behavior and satisfaction, while the negative impact of perceived risk remains minimal.

The impact of digital devices on the mental and physical health of primary school children: systematic review

The use of digital technology has permeated the lives of elementary school children, affecting aspects of their mental and physical health. While these technologies offer various benefits, there are concerns about their negative impacts such as anxiety, sleep disturbances and decreased physical activity. This study aims to evaluate the impact of digital devices on primary school children's mental and physical health through a systematic review. Using the PRISMA method, literature from PubMed, and Scopus was selected based on quality, relevance, and completeness of data. Of the initial 150 publications, 7 articles were relevant after being pre-analyzed. The results showed that physical activity is important for the health of children who actively use digital devices. Some active apps and video games increase physical activity and emotional well-being, but excessive use may pose a risk for anxiety, depression and obesity. Digital device use affects the mental and physical health of primary school children. The conclusion of this study is that parents and educators should supervise the use of digital devices to reduce negative impacts and optimally utilize technology to support children's development. Keywords: Digital technology; Mental health; Physical health; Elementary school children

Smart working during the COVID-19 pandemic: the prevalence of musculoskeletal and visual disorders in administrative staff of a large international company.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the use of digital devices during work activities has increased with important re-percussions on the psychological and physical well-being of the employees. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal and visual disorders related to the use of computers and home workstation. The study is a cross-sectional study. A checklist, from the National Institute of Health, was administered to white collar workers of a large international pharmaceutical company based in Italy. Our study showed that postural breaks have a protective effect on neck/shoulder pain (OR 0.32, CI 0.16-0.62), back and lower extremity pain (OR 0.35, CI 0.18-0.69), and eye burning (OR 0.50, CI 0.27-0.94) of study participants. The research recommends that remote employees who often change their workstations should establish a suitable work environment and obtaining enough risk training from an occupational physician. This is essential for maintaining their mental and physical well-being.

The interaction of digital devices utilization and behavior indicators of youth health

Nowadays, such digital devices as laptop, tablet, computer, smartphone are an important component of life in all age categories of population that differently affect their health. The article presents analysis of problems of digital behavior of children and youth as related to health. The materials of sociological survey were used to consider mutual effect of recommendations on safe use of digital devices and behavior indicators of health of students. The purpose of the study is to analyze significance of digital behavior for health based on materials of normative legal documents, results of various studies exemplified by students using digital devices in context of various components of self-preservation behavior. The normative legal documents regarding digital educational environment and research materials (including the study "Digital transformation in the life of students" carried out by Russian Society of Sociologists in 2023 in 29 cities of Russia (N=8,734) were analyzed. The study was focused on importance of formation of communication human culture of communication with various types digital devices and advisability to begin this work from children age. The difficulties existing in this area are noted. Among students, almost half of respondents don't follow basic recommendations concerning working with digital devices important for health prevention. The rest of hygiene recommendations are ignored by up to 87% of respondents. The presence of students' attitudes to healthy lifestyle, physical activity and increased self-estimation of health positively affect those who apply recommendations on communication with digital devices. The role of family and pedagogues as subjects in formation of hygienic culture of using digital devices is currently significant, but yet insufficient. The increasing of culture of communication with digital devices among youth and more active orientation on positive health indicators can input into health amelioration.

Corneal hypersensitivity to cold stimuli in symptomatic computer users.

Prolonged computer use may result in repeated stimulation of the ocular surface due to ocular dryness, potentially leading to alterations in its sensitivity. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between ocular symptoms and corneal sensitivity to cold and mechanical stimuli in computer users. Fifty-two young (31 ± 6 years), frequent computer users, including symptomatic and asymptomatic users, participated in this study. Mechanical and cold sensation thresholds were determined at the central cornea of one randomly selected eye of each participant using the UNSW Liquid Jet Aesthesiometer. Ocular surface symptoms and digital eye strain were assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index, Ocular Comfort Index, Instant Ocular Symptom Survey, and Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q). Associations between central corneal sensation thresholds and demographic variables, patterns of digital device use, and symptom scores were analyzed using Pearson (r) or Spearman (ρ) correlations and linear regression models. Age (ρ = 0.24), CVS-Q score (ρ = -0.33), CVS-Q dry eye score (ρ = -0.28), and mechanical sensation threshold (ρ = 0.63) were significantly associated with cold sensation threshold (p≤0.04). Conversely, there were no significant relationships with Ocular Surface Disease Index, Ocular Comfort Index, or Instant Ocular Symptom Survey or with other demographic variables (p≥0.34). In multiple linear regression models, age and mechanical sensation threshold were significant predictors of cold sensitivity (p=0.04 and p<0.001, respectively) (adjusted R2 = 0.459). There were no significant correlations between mechanical sensitivity and symptom scores (p≥0.09). Symptoms of digital eye strain, particularly those related to dry eye, were associated with higher corneal cold sensitivity. Corneal hypersensitivity to cold stimuli as a marker of ocular discomfort during computer use requires further investigation.

Perspective of Private Kindergarten Teachers on Pre-Coding Program in Early Childhood Education / Pandangan Guru Tadika Swasta Terhadap Program Pre-Coding dalam Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak

Nowadays, learning coding has become a highly demanded teaching method to apply basic skills such as programming and computational thinking (CT) in line with current technological developments. Malaysia also takes this issue into account by introducing a pre-coding program for early childhood education. Pre-coding is an activity that teaches the concept of coding which is looking at computational thinking (CT) such as problem solving, logical thinking and creative thinking without involving the use of digital devices. This is because pre-coding is seen as more appropriate to be implemented for children in line with their developmental level who are in dire need of exploring the real world through physical activity. Therefore, this study aims to identify the views of private kindergarten teachers on pre-coding in early childhood education. This teacher's view is seen from the aspects of knowledge, awareness, interest and acceptance of the teacher about the pre-coding program in early childhood education. This study uses a quantitative research design with a cross-sectional survey method. A total of 144 private kindergarten teachers around the states of Perak, Selangor and Putrajaya were selected as the study sample. The research instrument uses a set of questionnaires to answer the research objectives by looking at the median value for each aspect. The findings of the study show that the median value is high for the aspects of knowledge, awareness, interest and acceptance of teachers about pre-coding for children. The study found that the median value of all four aspects is equal to a value of 4. Therefore, the implementation of the pre-coding program is very important to be introduced and implemented in the early teaching and learning of children to help children acquire new basic skills in line with the development of the world of technology.

Health Information Seeking on the Internet Among Patients With and Without Cancer in a Region Affected by the 2011 Fukushima Triple Disaster: Cross-Sectional Study.

Health information seeking via the internet among patients with cancer in disaster-affected areas is underresearched. This study aims not only to assess the extent and means of web-based health information seeking among patients with cancer living in the disaster-affected area of the 2011 Fukushima triple disaster but also to compare these patterns with those without cancer, identifying distinct and shared factors influencing their web-based health information behaviors. We surveyed 404 patients (263 with and 141 without cancer) from the surgery department outpatient office at Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, from October 2016 to January 2017. The survey included self-administered questions on internet and digital device use. Descriptive analyses were performed to examine the use patterns of digital devices and the internet and their impact on health information seeking across different age groups of patients with and without cancer. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with web-based health information seeking, stratifying by cancer diagnosis. The proportion of participants who sought health information on the internet was comparable between patients with cancer and patients without cancer (19% vs 17.4%; P=.71). Digital device use varied significantly with age, with peak smartphone use occurring among the youngest cohorts for both groups. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that patients with cancer using smartphones or tablets daily were significantly more likely to gather web-based health information (odds ratio [OR] for smartphones 3.73, 95% CI 1.58-8.80; OR for tablets 5.08, 95% CI 1.27-20.35). Trust in institutional websites also significantly influenced web-based health information gathering among patients with cancer (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.13-7.25). Conversely, among patients without cancer, unemployment was associated with a lower likelihood of seeking web-based health information (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.85), whereas trust in both institutional and personal websites significantly increased this likelihood (OR for institutional websites 6.76, 95% CI 2.19-20.88; OR for personal websites 6.97, 95% CI 1.49-32.58). This study reveals that a small proportion of both patients with cancer and patients without cancer engage in health information seeking via the internet, influenced by age, digital device use, and trust in institutional websites. Given the growing prevalence of digital literacy, strategies to enhance accessible and reliable web-based health information should be developed, particularly for patients with cancer in postdisaster settings. Future efforts should focus on tailored health communication strategies that address the unique needs of these populations.

Cyberbullying Menurunkan Dua Kali Motivasi Belajar Siswa

Motivation to learn is a critical factor for achieving academic success. Low motivation can lead to serious issues such as school dropout and involvement in criminal activities. This study aims to explore the factors that influence student learning motivation. A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 198 junior and senior high school students selected through convenience sampling. The study was conducted in April and May 2024. Data were collected via questionnaires distributed through the g-form platform and shared via social media. Bivariate analysis was performed using chi-square and t-tests. Meanwhile a multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association of cyberbullying and other factors to learning motivation. Results indicated that cyberbullying (p = 0.013), school bullying (p = 0.032), and school type (p = 0.041) significantly influenced student learning motivation (p 0.05). Our multivariate analysis revealed that incidents of cyberbullying were the most influential factor, reducing student learning motivation by a factor of two (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.16-3.82). These findings highlight the need for preventive efforts against cyberbullying through educational programs and campaigns promoting the responsible use of digital devices, as well as increased parental supervision.

Acute acquired comitant esotropia associated with Lhermitte–Duclos disease: a case report

BackgroundAcute acquired comitant esotropia caused by prolonged near work, such as the use of digital devices, has been frequently reported in recent years. However, intracranial examination is necessary even for patients with nonparalytic comitant esotropia. Lhermitte–Duclos disease is a rare tumor that grows in layers in the cerebellum. Among those with this disease, cases of esotropia have been reported due to abduction limitation of the eye, but there have been no reports of comitant esotropia. Here, we report the case of a young woman with acute acquired comitant esotropia who was found to have Lhermitte–Duclos disease.Case presentationA 16-year-old Japanese female patient, whose ethnicity was Asian, was referred to our hospital for acute acquired comitant esotropia. Fundus examination revealed papilledema in both eyes, and magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed a cerebellar tumor in the right cerebellum with obstructive hydrocephalus. She underwent partial tumor resection, and a histopathological diagnosis of Lhermitte–Duclos disease was obtained. However, comitant esotropia status remained unchanged, and she underwent strabismus surgery. Finally, diplopia disappeared completely.ConclusionNeurological and intracranial imaging examinations are essential when acute acquired comitant esotropia is observed. Acute acquired comitant esotropia by Lhermitte–Duclos disease did not improve with partial tumor resection and required strabismus surgery, but good surgical results were obtained.

Building Strong Digital Foundations: Digital Fluency-focused Partnerships among Early Childhood Education Service Providers and Public Libraries in Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACT Digital fluency is part of the early childhood curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand but there is evidence that early childhood kaiako (teachers) lack confidence in this area of their work. Although many public library services maintain ongoing partnerships with early childhood education (ECE) providers, the extent to which these collaborations support digital fluency remains unclear. This research investigates the extent and nature of public library partnerships with ECE providers with a specific focus on collaboration on digital fluency. It explores the benefits and challenges associated with these partnerships in supporting the digital fluency curriculum in Aotearoa. A questionnaire consisting of multiple choice and open-form questions was sent to all public library services in Aotearoa gathering data on the types of programmes public libraries currently offer to ECE services, any focus on digital fluency, the benefits and challenges of the current partnerships, and plans and strategies for future collaboration. The findings reveal that most participating libraries have established partnerships, offering learning opportunities through storytimes, makerspaces, and various other activities. The use of digital devices, apps, and websites to support learning is evident, suggesting significant potential for public libraries to collaborate more extensively with ECE providers in fostering young children's digital fluency.

ONLINE CONSUMPTION HABITS OF OLDER PEOPLE IN HUNGARY

People's lives have been significantly affected by COVID-19, including the elderly, who have sought to limit personal contact, especially during quarantine periods. Their shopping habits, and their daily lives changed, too. The basis of my research was a longitudinal study conducted by the Department of Gerontology of the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Health Sciences. I conducted a two-region study in the summer of 2021, using the interview technique. I was looking for answers to the question how and to what extent the COVID-19 epidemic has affected the lives of members of older people's organisations, and how and in what ways their habits have changed, such as the use of digital devices and consumption in general. The results show that during the pandemic, in 2020, telephone contact was the main mode of communication between members of organisations, while in the following year, 2021, there were almost equal numbers of people who preferred online contact and those who preferred traditional telephone contact. Older people have presumably become more open to the online world, which is why internet use and online contact have become more common. During the period under review, older people's willingness to use digital tools increased and this also broadened their opportunities, such as by developing their skills, which was often a necessity. This is also true for online purchases. Online consumption has also increased among older age groups, as well as among all age groups of domestic consumers. For older people in particular, this is influenced by their opportunities for digitalisation. The main advantage of digitalisation for older people is that they can keep in touch with each other and with their family members living further away much more easily, but the disadvantage is the financial cost, as not all older people can afford to have the right technical conditions, internet access and skills.

A comprehensive review of binocular vision in myopia control

Myopia is a growing problem worldwide and is particularly common among young people. Myopia is a disease that affects the retina responsible for detail in the middle eye and can lead to permanent vision loss. Myopia, a prevalent refractive error causing distant objects to appear blurred, is increasingly affecting global populations, particularly children. By 2050, it's projected that half the world's population will be myopic, largely due to genetic predispositions and environmental factors like excessive near work and limited outdoor activities. A promising approach to managing myopia is binocular vision training, which involves using both eyes to create a single, clear image, potentially slowing myopia progression. Understanding the benefits of this method is critical as we move forward, especially considering the surge in myopia cases during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased digital device use. Research underscores the importance of addressing lifestyle and promoting outdoor activities and mitigating the impact of near work can help manage myopia progression and associated binocular vision disorders. Binocular vision training shows promise for myopia control by enhancing eye coordination, potentially slowing progression. Key factors include accommodation, AC/A ratios, and phoria, which are essential for effective diagnostics and therapy. Recent research emphasizes a holistic assessment of these elements for precise management of myopia and related binocular vision disorders in children. Understanding the mechanisms and innovative approaches of binocular vision in controlling myopia, highlighting the significance of continuous research and patient education in improving eye health.

Effects of 72-hour abstinence from instant messaging on craving, withdrawal, and affect

The effects of abstinence from digital services and/or devices (aka “digital detox”) on mental health have received increased interest in recent years. Regular breaks and abstinent periods are advised to help individuals who overuse digital technology, but the psychological benefits and related consequences require empirical attention. While some studies have examined the impact of abstinence from smartphone or social networks (SN) on mental health, there is a dearth of literature on the effects of abstinence from Instant Messaging (IM) services. This study examined the association between a 72-h abstinence from IM and subjective craving toward IM, IM withdrawal-like symptoms, affect (positive and negative), and time spent on IM. Thirty-five undergraduates who regularly engaged in IM were assessed one day before (baseline), during (daily), one day after, and one week after refraining from using IM for 72 h. Results revealed a moderate-to-large decrease in craving (η2 = 0.438) and negative affect (η2 = 0.386) during and after the abstinence, whereas withdrawal-like symptoms and positive affect remained stable (η2 between 0.009 and 0.140). One week after abstinence, participants reported a small-to-moderate decrease in their IM use (d = 0.32). These results suggest that abstinence from IM is associated with reduced preoccupation and/or obsession (i.e., craving) with this use and lower negative affect. However, withdrawal-like symptoms and positive affect did not change. These findings support recommendations that IM users experiencing negative affect states may benefit from short-term abstinence. Further research should investigate strategies to support users in undertaking abstinence and regulating their digital device use.

Pengaruh Mengintegrasikan Gadget dalam Praktik Parenting Modern Perspektif Al-Qur’an

Considering the development of very sophisticated technology, there are many tasks for parents in implementing parenting patterns for children. One of the problems in the current digital era is children's use of gadgets which affects their growth and development. Parents need to monitor and guide children in their use of digital devices to ensure that this does not interfere with their overall development. Children's problems are not new problems, but digital developments (information and communication technology) are believed to have a big influence on children's problems, including children's behavior. The digital era has an impact on easy access to information for children, including their curiosity about current technology. Children's problems are identified in a generation that is familiar with technological developments in the form of gadgets. The use of gadgets by children has positive and negative consequences. So this article aims to examine the positive and negative impacts of integrating gadgets in parenting, as well as solutions for parental supervision of children. The research uses the library research method, which is an approach to collecting data by reading books, magazines, journals, quoting the opinions of various tafsir scholars and other sources of information available in the library. Researchers used qualitative methods to collect existing data until finally it was discovered that integrating gadgets had a lot of influence on the continuity of parenting. In this case, the parenting process must also balance its practice with world and religious concepts. The Al-Qur'an itself provides many instructions regarding parenting patterns in the family. Therefore, integrating gadgets in parenting without being guided by the Koran will cause harm to parents. Islam illustrates that whether good or bad really depends on the parents' efforts in educating their children. Integrating gadgets in parenting practices can help parents provide modern education, but it also has bad effects if they are implemented incorrectly, therefore it requires effective supervision of children in today's digital era.

The dimensions of phygital autonomy: losing some, gaining some

ABSTRACT Digital retailing is omnipresent, such that shoppers increasingly interact with digital devices in physical stores. In service interactions involving the use of digital devices, shoppers attain novel forms of support, but they still need a means to achieve a sense of autonomy. To address this challenge, the current article reports on a qualitative analysis that reveals three main dimensions of phygital autonomy (visual, verbal, and kinetic) that relate to fundamental human senses and may enhance or undermine shoppers’ perceived autonomy, due to their extension or restriction. By reviewing the concept of autonomy across distinct retail settings, this study also provides theoretical and practical insights for how to reconcile shoppers’ autonomy dilemma, across their desires for freedom of action, freedom of choice, and human support.

The relationship between intervertebral disc pathologies and the use of digital devices and lack of physical activity in adolescents

Background/Aim: Existing research on herniated discs in adolescents primarily focuses on surgical interventions and outcomes, with fewer studies investigating the effectiveness of non-surgical therapies. The correlation between obesity, facet tropism, lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, trauma, certain sports activities, and herniated discs in adolescents is well-documented. Comparable to adults, a sedentary lifestyle in adolescents potentially carries a significant risk of developing disc degeneration and herniation. Consequently, this study aims to examine the relationship between increased digital device usage, decreased physical activity, and the onset of disc pathologies in adolescents. Methods: The study group included 94 patients aged between 10 and 16 years diagnosed with cervical (CDH), thoracic (TDH), and lumbar (LDH) disc disease. For each participant, the individual daily usage time spent on desktop computers, tablets, laptops, and mobile phones and the total time spent on all digital devices were evaluated. Their level of physical activity was also assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The study eliminated causes such as listhesis, facet tropism, lumbosacral transitional vertebra, trauma, and sports injuries that could prompt the development of these spinal pathologies. Additionally, other conditions that might cause spinal pain, such as scoliosis, rheumatological diseases with spinal involvement, tumors, and myofascial pain, were also ruled out. Results: The average age of all patients was 13.44 (2.07) years. A majority were women (n=55), comprising 58.50% of the sample. Of the patients, 60.64% had CDH, 12.77% had TDH, and 75.53% had LDH. The amount of physical activity and time spent on digital devices were similar across both genders (P=0.194 and P=0.770). A significant correlation was found between CDH and the time spent on tablets, laptops, and mobile phones (P&lt;0.001). Again, a significant correlation was observed between LDH, usage of desktop computers, total time spent on all digital devices, and the IPAQ-SF score for low physical activity (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence and duration of digital device use among adolescents are increasing, while physical activity is decreasing. Our study indicates that this situation may be linked to the development of disc degeneration and hernias. Understanding this association can help reduce treatment and rehabilitation costs and prevent the potential loss of workability and quality of life resulting from a herniated disc. Consequently, additional comparative research on this topic is crucial.

Twitter Discussions on #digitaldementia: Content and Sentiment Analysis.

Digital dementia is a term that describes a possible decline in cognitive abilities, especially memory, attributed to the excessive use of digital technology such as smartphones, computers, and tablets. This concept has gained popularity in public discourse and media lately. With the increasing use of social media platforms such as Twitter (subsequently rebranded as X), discussions about digital dementia have become more widespread, which offer a rich source of information to understand public perceptions, concerns, and sentiments regarding this phenomenon. The aim of this research was to delve into a comprehensive content and sentiment analysis of Twitter discussions regarding digital dementia using the hashtag #digitaldementia. Retrospectively, publicly available English-language tweets with hashtag combinations related to the topic of digital dementia were extracted from Twitter. The tweets were collected over a period of 15 years, from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2022. Content analysis was used to identify major themes within the tweets, and sentiment analysis was conducted to understand the positive and negative emotions associated with these themes in order to gain a better understanding of the issues surrounding digital dementia. A one-way ANOVA was performed to gather detailed statistical insights regarding the selected tweets from influencers within each theme. This study was conducted on 26,290 tweets over 15 years by 5123 Twitter users, mostly female users in the United States. The influencers had followers ranging from 20,000 to 1,195,000 and an average of 214,878 subscribers. The study identified four themes regarding digital dementia after analyzing tweet content: (1) cognitive decline, (2) digital dependency, (3) technology overload, and (4) coping strategies. Categorized according to Glaser and Strauss's classifications, most tweets (14,492/26,290, 55.12%) fell under the categories of wretched (purely negative) or bad (mostly negative). However, only a small proportion of tweets (3122/26,290, 11.86%) were classified as great (purely positive) or swell sentiment (mostly positive). The ANOVA results showed significant differences in mean sentiment scores among the themes (F3,3581=29.03; P<.001). The mean sentiment score was -0.1072 (SD 0.4276). Various negative tweets have raised concerns about the link between excessive use of digital devices and cognitive decline, often known as digital dementia. Of particular concern is the rapid increase in digital device use. However, some positive tweets have suggested coping strategies. Engaging in digital detox activities, such as increasing physical exercise and participating in yoga and meditation, could potentially help prevent cognitive decline.