Prevalence of mobile device-related musculoskeletal pain among working university students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate usage patterns of mobile devices and their impact on users’ musculoskeletal system among working university students in Slovenia at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of the University of Ljubljana. An Internet-based survey was sent to students’ e-mail addresses and students provided information about usage patterns and reported on musculoskeletal pain (MSP) that may relate to mobile device usage in the past 12 months. A total of 535 students (63% females and 37% males) aged 18 years or older completed the survey and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the prevalence of MSP was 39.6%. Most musculoskeletal symptoms were reported in the back (57.1%) and shoulder (50%). Statistically significant differences in exposure to mobile devices and MSP between genders were found (p < 0.05). This study highlights the importance of knowledge of mobile device ergonomics among working students.

Keywords:

• mobile device
• working university students
• musculoskeletal pain
• prevalence
• ergonomics

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana.

Compliance with ethical standards

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, K.Z., upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.