Development of a Tool for Measuring Adverse Health Effects Due to Digital Textbook Use

This study developed a tool for measuring adverse health effects in students who use digital textbooks. The study tool was aimed at 690 sixth-graders who had used digital textbooks for more than a year in schools taking part in the nationwide digital textbook pilot program. We determined the validity and reliability of the tool. The tool for measuring adverse health effects of digital textbooks consisted of a total of 22 items, including 13 on physical symptoms and 10 on psychological symptoms. For the physical symptoms, two factors – whole body/musculoskeletal symptoms and eye symptoms – were extracted. For the psychological symptoms, the two assessed factors included negative and positive psychological symptoms. This tool will not only be helpful in preventing and managing adverse health effects of digital textbook use by identifying various physical and psychological symptoms, but will also be useful as a basis for the expansion of digital textbooks.

REFERENCES:

• Czerniewicz, L. & Brown, C. (2014). The habitus and technological practices of rural students: a case study. South African Journal of Education 34(1): 1 – 14.
• Hardman, J. (2005). Activity Theory as a framework for understanding teachers‘ perceptions of computer usage at a primary school level in South Africa. South African Journal of Education 25(4): 258 – 265.
• Matorera, D. & Fraser, W.J. (2016). The Feasibility of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) as an Assessment and Quality Assurance Model. South African Journal of Education 36(3): 1 – 13.
• Kim, J.Y. & Cho, K.J. (2005). A study on the comparison of Video Display Terminal (VDT) subjective symptoms for computer-addicted and non-addicted adolescents. Journal of Korean Academy of Child Health Nursing 11(2): 159 – 166.
• Korea Education and Research Information Service 2011. Available at http://www.dtbook.kr. Accessed 1 February 2012.
• Lee, G.R. & Hwang, M.H. (2008). The relationship with internet addiction, VDT syndrome and health behavior of elementary school students. The Journal of Korean Society for School Health Education 9(2): 65 – 80.
• Lim, K.J., Kam, S., Han, C.H., Kang, Y.S., & Cha, B.J. (2002). State of computer use and VDT related symptoms in adolescents. Journal of the Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health 6(1): 53 – 69.
• Ministry of Educational Science and Technology 2011. Execution plan of smart education promotional strategy, Ministry of Educational Science and Technology
• Seomun, G.A., Kim, E.Y. & Noh, W. (2010). A review of studies on the health-adverse effects in using digital textbooks. Journal of Digital Policy & Management 10(1): 165 – 175.
• Seomun G.A., Chun, B.C., Lee, S.M., Yang, E.J., Kim, E.Y. & Park, S.A. (2009). A comprehensive study on the influence of the use of digital textbooks on health of students and teachers, Seoul: Korea Education and Research Information Service.
• Suh, S.S., Seo, J.H. & Hwang, S.H. (2009). Effects of digital textbook usage on the improvement of problem solving competency. Journal of the Korean association of information education 13(3): 263 – 271.