Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: January | Volume: 13 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 1-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230101
Increased Screen Time During the Pandemic: Lessons Learnt
Akshaj Mehta1, Dr Anshuja Singla2, Dr Sumita Mehta3
1Medical Student, 2Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University College of Medical Sciences & Associated GTB Hospital, Delhi, India
3Senior Specialist, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Babu Jagjivanram Memorial Hospital, Delhi, India
Corresponding Author: Dr Sumita Mehta
ABSTRACT
The pandemic of COVID-19 has led to change in the mode of learning to a virtual platform. This has resulted in an increase in screen time for students which has affected their overall health. The study was undertaken to assess the impact of increased screen time on physical and mental health of students across medical colleges of the state of Delhi, India.
Material & methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among medical students of Delhi in the month of May 2022. A pre-set questionnaire with 14 questions assessing the physical, mental and emotional health of students was filled online via google forms and 540 responses received were evaluated.
Results: The mean age of the study group was 19.9 years and 50.8% of the respondents were males. The average total screen time was between 6 to 7 hours in 34% students. Majority of students (35.9%) spent 5 to 6 hours of their total screen time in attending on-line classes while another 17.9% spent >7 hours on classes daily. 48% students had generalized anxiety disorder and 54.4% students had depressive disorder. 54.2% of the respondents spent <30 minutes on moderate physical activity during the week and 55.8% performed <15 minutes of vigorous exercise. 36% of students had only 5 to 6 hours of sleep daily with another 4% having <4 hours of sleep. Students experienced focussing problems most commonly (49.9%) followed by dry eye (34.9%), eye redness/itching (32.3%), photophobia in 28.1% and increased lacrimation in 19.4%.
The study indicated that online mode of learning in medical colleges negatively affected the physical activity, sleeping patterns and mental health of the students.
Key words: Online classes, screen time, physical health, mental health, medical students