Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding the Health Hazards of Mobile Phone Usage

Introduction

Cell phones are also known as mobile phones or wireless phones or hand-held phones with built-in antennas. Mobile phones can be carried from place to place with a minimum of fuss, which makes it a good choice for people who want to be in touch with others.

Mobile phone is a mobile electronic device used to make telephone calls across a wide geographic area. It does this by connecting to a cellular network owned by a mobile network operator.¹

In addition to functioning as a telephone, a modern mobile phone supports additional services such as Short Messaging Service (SMS), Multi Messaging Service (MMS), E-mail, Internet access, short-range wireless infrared or bluetooth communications, gaming applications, and photography. The common component found on all phones is a battery, typically rechargeable, providing the power source for the phone functions.All Global System for Mobile (GSM) phones use a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that allows an account to be swapped among devices. GSM mobile phones require a small chip called a SIM card, to function.²

Health effects exists in a community that believes mobile phone use represents a long-term health risk. Mobile phones are almost used by everybody today including kids, adults, old people etc. Scientists have proved that mobile phone affects different organs of the body. The electromagnetic radiations from a mobile phone are now affecting the pacemaker too. The radiations also are known to affect the neurons which connects each other. During talking on the phone placed around the ear, the neurons around the ear get affected. This leads to deafness and migraines. The phones placed in the front pocket can affect heart leading to arrhythmic heartbeats. These radiations have been known to affect the foetus in pregnancy.³

Human experimental studies revealed that EMF emitted by cellular telephones may be responsible for periodical increase in arterial blood pressure, changes in electric activity of the brain.⁵ Radiofrequency could modify signals in the cells in the part of the brain that is responsible for learning and short term memory. Posture of holding phone between raised shoulder and ear could have a damaging effect on muscles, bones, tendons and discs.⁴ These problems would apply equally to a cordless phone or a landline phone as to a mobile phone and are the effects of bad posture. Because of their smaller heads, thinner skulls and higher tissue conductivity, children may absorb more energy from a given phone than adults. Mobile phone use while driving being distractive has shown to increase the risk of accident.⁵

Objectives

1. To assess the pre-test level of knowledge regarding the health hazards of mobile phone usage among the students of selected college.

2. To assess the post-test level of knowledge regarding the health hazards of mobile phone usage among the students of selected college.

3. To compare the pre-test and post-test level of knowledge regarding the health hazards of mobile phone usage among the students of selected college.

4. To find out the association between the post-test level of knowledge regarding the health hazards of mobile phone usage among the students of selected college with their selected socio demographic variables.

Materials And Methods

An evaluative research approach was adopted for this study. To accomplish the objectives of the study, a pre experimental one group pre-test – post-test design was adopted. The study was conducted at Spurthy College of Management Studies, Marasur, Aneka taluk. One thirty students who were willing to participate in the study, available at the time of data collection and who can read and write Kannada and English were included by using random sampling technique. Data collection was done after obtaining permission from the management and written consent from the subjects. Structured selfadministered questionnaire including 40 multiple choice questions was used to collect the demographic data and to assess the knowledge of students regarding health hazards of mobile phone usage. The reliability of the knowledge tool was assessed by split half technique by using Spearman Brown Prophesy formula and the reliability obtained was r= 0.80. Prior to data collection, ethical permission was obtained. The prepared tool was validated by experts from different faculty. Structured teaching program was implemented and post-test was conducted after seven days using the same questionnaire. The collected data were analysed and organised according to the objectives of the study using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

1. Description of sample characteristics

The majority 80 (61.4%) of students belonged to the age group of 17-19 years, 69 (53.08%) were females, 110 (84.62%) were Hindus, 45 (34.62%) were studying BCA. Educational status of majority of parents was primary education 49 (37.69%), self-employed parents were 58 (44.62%), average income of parents per month was Rs 5001 to 10000 among 58 (44.62%), 87 (66.92%) were residing in rural areas, 94 (72.31%) were using mobile phone for less than two hours in a day and 51 (39.23%) were using mobile phone for less than one year.

2. Classification of students on pre-test knowledge level on health hazards of mobile phone usage

Table 1 depicts that 123 (94.62%) students had inadequate knowledge and 7 (5.38%) of them had moderate knowledge on health hazards of mobile phone usage.

3. Comparison between pre and post level of knowledge regarding the health hazards of mobile phone usage

The post-test results shows that 3 (2.31%) students had inadequate knowledge, 91 (70%) had moderate knowledge and 36 (27.69%) had adequate knowledge on health hazards of mobile phone usage.

4. Association between the demographic variables and post-test knowledge of students regarding the health hazards of mobile phone usage 

Table 3 reveals that chi square value of post-test levels of selected socio demographic variables such as gender, department, educational status of parents, occupation of parents, duration of mobile phone usage per day and information regarding health hazards of mobile phones were significantly associated at 5% level (p<0.05) and remaining variables were not associated with their post-test level of knowledge. Hence null hypothesis was rejected and the research hypothesis was accepted which demonstrates that the administration of structured teaching program could improve the knowledge of students regarding the health hazards of mobile phone usage.

Discussion

The study findings have been discussed with reference to the objectives. The data of demographic variables revealed that the majority 80 (61.4%) of students belonged to the age group of 17-19 years, 69 (53.08%) were females, 110 (84.62%) were Hindus, 45 (34.62%) were studying BCA. Educational status of majority parents was primary education 49 (37.69%), selfemployed parents were 58 (44.62%), average income per month was reported as Rs 5001 to 10000 in 58 (44.62%) parents, 87 (66.92%) were residing in rural areas, 94 (72.31%) were using mobile for less than two hours per day, 51 (39.23%) were using mobile phone for less than a year. The pre-test knowledge score results showed that 123 (94.62%) students had inadequate knowledge and 7 (5.38%) had moderate knowledge and posttest knowledge scores showed that 91 (70%) students had moderate knowledge, 36 (27.69%) had adequate knowledge and 3 (2.31%) had inadequate knowledge on health hazards of mobile phone usage. The total knowledge of all the aspects enhancement mean score was 12.94 with SD is 3.33 with ‘t’ value of 44.21. The paired ‘t’ value obtained for all the components of knowledge were found to be significant at the level of 0.01 with df 129 (t value 1.97). Therefore, structured teaching programme was observed to be efficient in improving the knowledge of students regarding the health hazards of mobile phone usage in all the aspects. The computed chi square value for association between pre-test knowledge scores and demographic variables was found to be statistically significant for gender, department, educational status of parents, occupation of parents, duration of mobile usage per day and the information regarding health hazards of mobile phones was significant at 0.05 level. Hence, research hypothesis was accepted. It inferred that knowledge scores are associated with the socio demographic variables.

Conclusion

The findings of the present study showed that the structured teaching program was effective as evidenced by the result of pre-test and post-test knowledge scores. This study has proved that it helps to increase the knowledge regarding the health hazards of mobile phone usage. The knowledge base for nursing can be developed through nursing education which can be done by integrating the techniques and knowledge into all the levels of curriculum in nursing education. More studies can be conducted in an experimental methodology and on a large scale basis.

Conflict of Interest

None.