Correlation between health disorders and work with the computer among 1st and 4th form students of X gymnasium

Aim of the study. The objective of this study is to evaluate correlation between health disorders and work with the computer. Objectives. The goals of this work are to study dynamics of disorders of the function of vision, bad posture, and scoliosis; to establish correlation between health disorders/complaints (sight, bone-muscle system) and work with the computer; to measure students’ work with the computer at home and its environment. Methods. The research was done in 2006-2008; it involved 428 participants of 1ST and 4th form students of X Gymnasium. The percent of frequency of response was 92,24. Data was collected from medical documents and by carrying out a survey. Statistical analysis of data was done using computer-based statistical batch SPSS 13.0 and MS Excel. Results. The results show that 40% of students have vision disorders and 67% - musculosceletal disorders. There is statistical evidence of growth in eyesight worsening and growing frequency of scoliosis among students. The main vision disorders caused by computers include: 42,3% eyestrain, 38,6% red eyes, 32,9% reduced vision, 26,2% running eyes, 23,8% dry eyes, 19,6% flicker. Connection is established between the time spent at a computer and reduced eyesight. Most frequent musculoscelatal disorders include: 42,3% pain in the spinal column; 36% - neck area, 16,8% - shoulder arch, 14% - wrist, 11% - girdle pain. There is relation between time spent at a computer and girdle pain (p=0,033). Girls spend more time at a computer working on presentations (p=0,000) and in chat rooms (0,011) while boys spend more time on computer games (p=0,000) and other computer programs (p=0,048). Conclusions. Research has presented statistically reliable worsening of vision and scoliosis among students. The time spent at a computer averages to 5 hours per day. Girls have more health complaints than boys. 1st form gymnasium students spend more time at the computer than 4th form students