Assessing the Screen-time Impact on Physical and Mental Health in Medical Students sin Pune.
Keywords:
physical health, medical students, screen time, eye strain, anxiety, pune, online education, musculoskeletal problems.Abstract
Background: The rapid expansion of digital learning, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19, has increased the amount of time medical students spend in front of screens. Despite the fact that screens are essential for social and intellectual engagement, excessive use can be detrimental to one's physical and mental well-being. Even though this issue is becoming more and more of a worldwide concern, Indian medical students know very little about it.
Aim: The study aims to assess the amount of time spent on screens by MBBS students at Dr D Y Patil Medical College in Pune and to examine the impact this has on their mental and physical health.
Settings and Design: Dr DY Patil Medical College in Pune
Methods and Materials: Cross sectional analytical study was conducted with 174 MBBS students, ranging in age from 18 to 25. Participants were selected by convenience sampling, and a semi-structured Google Forms survey consisting of 20 items was employed. Analysis was done using an app Epi Info version 7.2.7
Statistical analysis used: The data were analysed using Epi Info.
Results: Seventy-seven percent of participants reported using screens for four to six hours a day, and 19 percent reported using them for more than six hours. The most frequent physical complaints were headaches (20.6%), neck discomfort (19.8%), back pain (13%), and eye strain (30.8%). Anxiety (21.6%), irritation (19.4%), and loneliness (16.2%) were among the mental health symptoms. Additionally, according to 51.7% of students, utilising screens decreased their physical activity.
Conclusions: The results show a strong correlation between extended screen time and a number of health problems in medical students. The most frequently reported mental and physical effects were anxiety and eye strain, respectively. Awareness and preventive measures, such as ergonomic practices and screen hygiene, are desperately needed to safeguard students' health as medical education becomes more and more reliant on digital platforms.
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Docs warn of rise in health risks in kids due to too much screen time | Lucknow News - Times of India
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Copyright (c) 2026 Kajal Srivastava, Dr. Ramya Nair , Dr. Ivy Atta , Dr. Nimra Kamati , Dr. Janvi Shrimali , Dr. Sanjana Khalate
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