PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Introduction Online learning is the educational format adopted by schools and universities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It comprises Internet-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classrooms, and digital collaborations. This study aims to assess digital eye strain (DES) among children attending online classes in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted among children aged 3 to 18 years old in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. We sent out a self-administered questionnaire to parents of the targeted children by using social media, such as WhatsApp (Meta Platforms, Inc., Menlo Park, California, United States), Telegram (Telegram FZ LLC, Dubai), and Twitter (Twitter, Inc., San Francisco, California, United States). The questionnaire included questions on socio-demographic profile, smart devices being used, frequency of devices used per day before and during the lockdown, and DES. Results A total of 547 children were involved (50.3% males vs. 49.7% females). During online classes, the most commonly used device was tablets (51.2%). A significant increase was noticed in the use of devices during the COVID-19-related lockdown among children (p<0.001). The prevalence of DES-positive symptoms was 69.8%. The presence of DES symptoms was associated with age group (p=0.003), school level (p=0.040), device preferred for online classes (p=0.001), number of hours spent attending online classes (p=0.010), and number of hours spent using an electronic device during the lockdown (p<0.001). Conclusion Our study underlines a higher prevalence rate of DES among children during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children who used a digital device for more than five hours during the lockdown had a greater risk of having DES than the rest.
摘要：
简介在线学习是2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间学校和大学采用的教育形式。它包括基于互联网的学习，基于计算机的学习，虚拟教室,数字合作。这项研究旨在评估Qassim地区参加在线课程的儿童的数字眼疲劳（DES）。沙特阿拉伯。材料和方法这是一项在卡西姆地区3至18岁儿童中进行的横断面研究，沙特阿拉伯。我们通过使用社交媒体向目标儿童的父母发送了一份自我管理的问卷，如WhatsApp(元平台，Inc.,MenloPark,加州,美国),电报（电报FZLLC，Dubai),和Twitter（Twitter，Inc.,旧金山,加州,美国)。问卷包括关于社会人口概况的问题，正在使用的智能设备，在封锁之前和期间每天使用设备的频率，DES。结果共有547名儿童参与（男性占50.3%，而男性占50.3%49.7%女性）。在网上课堂上，最常用的装置是片剂(51.2%)。在与COVID-19相关的封锁期间，儿童使用设备的数量显着增加(p<0.001)。DES阳性症状的患病率为69.8%。DES症状的存在与年龄组相关（p=0.003），学校水平(p=0.040)，在线课程首选设备(p=0.001)，参加在线课程的小时数(p=0.010)，以及在锁定期间使用电子设备的小时数(p<0.001)。结论我们的研究强调了在COVID-19大流行期间儿童中DES的患病率较高。在封锁期间使用数字设备超过五个小时的儿童比其他人有更大的患DES的风险。
