The Impact of E-learning During COVID-19 Pandemic on Body Aches Among Students in a Palestinian University

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal system pain is a major concern in our life due to its negative effects on our ability to perform our daily functions. During the COVID-19 pandemic several countries around the world switched their teaching programs into e-learning programs, where students spend long hour using desktop/ laptop or tablet devices. The use of these devices was associated with several complains among the students like neck, shoulder and back pain. The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of different body aches associated with e-learning on university students and to find a link between the most common body posture, the duration of usage of desktop/ laptop or tablet devices with the negative health outcome on these students. Methods: The subjects of this study were students from An-Najah university in Palestine. 385 questionnaires were filled using Google forms as a web-based questionnaire and all the subjects were using e-learning approach due to COVID-19 pandemic. Upon completion of the study, descriptive statistics, correlation statistics with Pearson coefficient and Chi square analysis were used to study the sample.Results: Our study showed that a large percentage of participants used the desktop/ laptop or tablet devices for e-learning during the pandemic. The Duration of these devices use was correlated with the duration and degree of pain among the participants, and also associated with the difficulty in their ability to perform several daily activities. In addition, most of the students used the sitting position with the supine bent forward during the device usage. When comparing the pain level and duration associated with desktop/ laptop or tablet device usage in both genders, female tend to have higher duration and more severe pain compared to male. Conclusion: The university students that participated in this study had an increase in body aches during the e-learning process, and the aches duration and severity increases if the duration of desktop/laptop or tablet usage increase.

Systematic Literature Review: Online Learning during Covid-19 Pandemic

“…During the e-learning process, students participating in the study experienced an increase in body pain, and the duration and intensity of pain increased with the time and severity of desktop/laptop use (Yaseen & Salah, 2021). While the beneficial effects of e-learning platforms on institutions, teachers, and students in this study.…”

Keluhan Musculoskeletal Pada Mahasiswa Selama Pandemi Covid-19: Literatur Review

“…Untuk bagian tubuh responden yang mengalami rasa sakit adalah leher, bahu, punggung atas dan bawah. [21] The Impact of E-learning During COVID-19 Pandemic on Body Aches among Students in a Palestinian University Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa 48,3% responden merasa sakit pada bagian leher, punggung dan bahu, dan akan bertambah sesudah pembelajaran online. Sebanyak 8,6% responden menyatakan bahwa rasa sakit pada bagian leher, punggung dan bahu tidak bertambah pada saat pembelajaran online telah selesai.…”