Smartphone usage time and related health conditions in older people during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective To evaluate smartphone usage time and related health conditions in older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method This is a cross-sectional study of 237 older people (aged ≥60 years) Brazilians, carried out between June and August 2020. An online form was used to obtain the following variables: socio-economic profile, health status, and smartphone usage. Bivariate and multivariate analyzes were performed using the SPSS program with the outcome of smartphone usage time. Results Of the study individuals, 69.2% (n=164) were females, 48.5% (n=115) complained of cervical pain, 57.4% (n=136) had a cervical disability and remained 6.2 hours a day in the sitting position per week. Approximately 54.4% (n=129) reported increased smartphone usage in the past few months, reporting 4.2 hours of usage/day. Younger senior individuals (p=0.038), who did not practice physical activities (p=0.001), with good health assessment (p=0.009) and who spent more extended periods in the sitting position (p=0.011) spent more time using the device. Conclusion Considering the smartphone usage during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with more extended periods in the sitting position and a sedentary lifestyle, it is worth mentioning its adverse effects on the physical and mental health of older people.

Aplicativos móveis sobre segurança do paciente idoso no ambiente cirúrgico: uma prospecção tecnológica

“…When surgery occurs without complications and the patient has a stable condition, they often still need to use devices such as gastrostomy, parenteral nutrition to meet their nutritional needs . Such elements reinforce the need for technologies aimed at this public and period, since digital inclusion is part of the social inclusion of this elderly, corroborating for active aging, which is increasingly using technologies, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic (13) . Initially, it was believed that the low number of applications for this audience could be related to the low adherence of this age group to mobile technologies.…”

Perceived quality of life and associated factors in long COVID syndrome among older Brazilians: A cross‐sectional study

“…A Brazilian study carried out with older people during the COVID-19 pandemic, 3 months after the beginning of social isolation measures, showed that there was an increase in hours of screen time during this period (4.2 h) and associated smartphone use with longer sitting time and a sedentary lifestyle, and consequently negative repercussions on health (Abdon et al, 2022). The literature provides evidence that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, excess screen time together with poor posture was accentuated during the period of social isolation (Abdon et al, 2022). In contrast, digital social interactions may have promoted the well-being of the TA B L E 3 Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis of variables that were associated with high perceived QoL older people, serving as a primary resource for coping with loneliness during confinement (Siette et al, 2021), especially in the second wave of COVID-19.…”

“…Nonetheless, our data analysis revealed high daily screen use (watching TV and using the internet at home) was associated with low QoL, in line with previous studies indicating association with negative health outcomes (Malta et al, 2020). A Brazilian study carried out with older people during the COVID‐19 pandemic, 3 months after the beginning of social isolation measures, showed that there was an increase in hours of screen time during this period (4.2 h) and associated smartphone use with longer sitting time and a sedentary lifestyle, and consequently negative repercussions on health (Abdon et al, 2022). The literature provides evidence that, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, excess screen time together with poor posture was accentuated during the period of social isolation (Abdon et al, 2022).…”