Self-Reported Student Awareness and Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome During COVID-19 Pandemic at Al-Baha University

Abstract

Saleha K Alatawi,1 Kareem Allinjawi,2 Khaled Alzahrani,3 Naglaa K Hussien,4 Mahadi Bashir,5 Eman N Ramadan6 1Department of Optometry, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Optometry, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jeddah University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Ophthalmology Department, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 5Consultant of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Public Health, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Saleha K Alatawi, Department of Optometry, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: The rapid increase increased, in using of video display terminals during the COVID-19 pandemic predisposes users to a variety of health problems restricted to visual problems and including various musculoskeletal problems, collectively known as computer vision syndrome (CVS) or computer vision syndrome.Aim: This study aims to ascertain university students’ awareness of computer vision syndrome at Al-Baha University, including the nature, sources, accuracy, and completeness of information, as well as the attitudes towards CVS, and mitigative practices.Methods: This study used a descriptive cross-sectional design and a convenient sample of 310 (80.0% male) students drawn from Al Baha University campuses. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires.Results: The mean age of the participants was 23.51 years (SD=5.42). The results show that 78.7%, 66.1%, and 11.6% received CVS information from social media, mass media, and family, respectfully. Despite 70% of respondents being aware of CVS manifestations, between 42% to 67% of those sampled had accurate and complete information about the meaning, causes, prevention, and management of the syndrome. More than a third of the participants had either a good (62.9%) or average (29%) total knowledge of CVS. Less than 15% had incorrect information. On average, 62.5% of respondents engaged in preventive or mitigative behaviours/activities as opposed to 37.5% who did not, but only 44% believed CVS was a serious health threat. 65.2% of the studied students had a satisfactory total practice score. The regression analysis showed that the coefficients of marital status and faculty were a statistically significant association with the total knowledge score.Conclusion: CVS awareness is acceptably high, but there is a low preventive/mitigative behaviors as well as a low realization of CVS’ long-term health problems. This is why increasing CVS awareness and implementing interventions such as the 20-20-20 rule could be effective at Al Baha University.Keywords: awareness, computer vision syndrome, COVID-19 pandemic

Keywords

• awareness
• computer vision syndrome
• covid-19 pandemic