The Role of Parents, Teachers and Health Professionals in Forming Knowledge, Abilities and Skills of a Safe Use of Electronic Devices by High School Children

Abstract

Introduction: A widespread intensive use of electronic devices by modern young people negatively affects their health emphasizing the importance of raising awareness of users about health risks of the uncontrolled use of gadgets and developing appropriate safety skills. High school students can get necessary information in medical institutions, at school, and at home. The objective was to study the role of parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals in forming knowledge, skills and abilities of the safe use of digital devices and related components of a healthy lifestyle in seniors. Materials and methods: In the light of the objective, a special online questionnaire-based survey was conducted in 2019 using Google Forms. It involved 200 schoolchildren in grades 9-11 (15-17 years of age), 251 parents, 389 school teachers, and 220 healthcare professionals. Results: The survey data demonstrated the lowest subjective assessment of risks of the uncontrolled use of digital devices among schoolchildren (p≤0.05) and, at the same time, the highest prevalence of the considered risk factors among them. About 30% of the schoolchildren, 20% of parents and 20% of teachers underestimate behavioral risk factors of the uncontrolled use of gadgets (p≤0.05). I established the leading role of parents in forming the skill of long-term screen time in young people and noted low competence of healthcare professionals in issues of the safe use of digital devices and related components of a healthy lifestyle (using devices in poor lighting, inappropriate places and positions, lacking regular breaks, underestimating risks of low physical activity and eating less than 3 meals a day). I also found that teachers, being aware of safety requirements, comply with them but do not use this experience in their professional activities. Only 65% of schoolchildren and parents and 60% of teachers (p≤0.05) have skills of a safe screen use and take measures to preserve and maintain visual acuity. Conclusions: The survey revealed the importance of improving awareness of the population in issues of the safe use of digital devices, increasing the number of school subjects providing knowledge on this issue and contributing to the development of related healthy lifestyle components, and using all possible sources of transmission of relevant information.