A Preliminary Study on Computer Vision Syndrome Symptoms among Hospital Staff in Trang Hospital

Abstract

Currently, the era of digital technology is rapidly advancing in the fields of medicine and public health.
Technology is being leveraged to develop systems and manage healthcare, including the use of digital
platforms for data organization, disease diagnosis, and the development of medical devices to enhance
patient treatment. However, prolonged use of digital devices such as smartphones and computers may
result in computer vision syndrome (CVS), characterized by symptoms like headaches, blurred
vision, dry eyes, and visual instability. This study aimed to investigate and compare CVS symptoms
between medical professionals and support staff at Trang Hospital, Thailand. The investigation involved a
questionnaire on CVS symptoms and utilizes descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test for group
differences, and Chi-square test for population proportions. A total of 139 participants were categorized
into medical professionals (n=85) and support staff (n=54). The basic demographic data showed no
significant differences between the 2 groups, except for the proportion of hours spent using computers,
which was higher in the support staff group. Statistical analysis revealed that support staff, who use
computers regularly, reported higher levels of CVS symptoms compared to medical professionals. The
most reported symptoms were eye pain, eye irritation, and headaches. The study suggests a correlation
between CVS symptoms in hospital staff and the number of hours spent using computers. These
findings offer valuable insights for policy development and preventive measures. Additionally, the study
encourages the exploration of physical therapy interventions to alleviate CVS symptoms in hospital staff
in the future.