Authors :
Prajakta I. Dongritot; Afrah Mazumder; Arwa A. Mohammed; Fariha N. Khazi; Dr. Shatha Al Sharbatti
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 2 - February
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3IIfn9N
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3Y6cSWm
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7677183
Abstract :
The study aimed to assess the levels of
knowledge among teenagers in the UAE about the safe
use of personal audio devices (PAD), the factors related
to knowledge, and their impact on ear health, to
determine the utilization patterns and the perceived
impact on ear health by audio devices, among teenagers
in the UAE. A cross-sectional study conducted among
292 students. A self-administered questionnaire was
administered to teenage students from high schools in
the UAE, of both sexes from grades 9 to 12. The
Chi‐square test was used to find an association between
the categorical variables. Logistic regression was used
to determine the determinants of knowledge, impact,
and practice. Scoring was assigned to items that reflect
knowledge, practice and impact, median score was
taken as cut off to determine adequate level of
knowledge, unsafe practice, and impact. Findings
included a total of 161 male and 131 female students
were enrolled (n = 292). 73.3% of students use personal
audio devices. 49.5.% of students had adequate
knowledge, female students had higher levels of
knowledge than males. 50.3% (93) of the participants
used the audio devices in an unsafe manner, the
majority being males. The younger age groups, female
gender, parents’ education who did more than high
school had adequate levels of knowledge. The most
common impact experienced by using PAD was
insomnia (41.1%), decreased hearing (21.6%) and
numbness of the ear is the least common effect of using
PAD (11.6%). The present study revealed that 49.5.%
of students had adequate knowledge, female students
had higher levels of knowledge than males. 92 (49.7%)
of the participants undertook safe practice of using
audio devices, whereas 93 (50.3%) had remarkably
unsafe practices. The factors associated with adequate
levels of knowledge were among younger age groups,
female gender, parents’ education who did more than
high school. The most common impact experienced by
using PAD was insomnia (41.1%) numbness of the ear
(11.6%) was the least common effect of using PAD.
Keywords :
PADs, Earphones, Headphones, Teenagers, Students, Knowledge, Unsafe Practice, Impact, Hearing
The study aimed to assess the levels of
knowledge among teenagers in the UAE about the safe
use of personal audio devices (PAD), the factors related
to knowledge, and their impact on ear health, to
determine the utilization patterns and the perceived
impact on ear health by audio devices, among teenagers
in the UAE. A cross-sectional study conducted among
292 students. A self-administered questionnaire was
administered to teenage students from high schools in
the UAE, of both sexes from grades 9 to 12. The
Chi‐square test was used to find an association between
the categorical variables. Logistic regression was used
to determine the determinants of knowledge, impact,
and practice. Scoring was assigned to items that reflect
knowledge, practice and impact, median score was
taken as cut off to determine adequate level of
knowledge, unsafe practice, and impact. Findings
included a total of 161 male and 131 female students
were enrolled (n = 292). 73.3% of students use personal
audio devices. 49.5.% of students had adequate
knowledge, female students had higher levels of
knowledge than males. 50.3% (93) of the participants
used the audio devices in an unsafe manner, the
majority being males. The younger age groups, female
gender, parents’ education who did more than high
school had adequate levels of knowledge. The most
common impact experienced by using PAD was
insomnia (41.1%), decreased hearing (21.6%) and
numbness of the ear is the least common effect of using
PAD (11.6%). The present study revealed that 49.5.%
of students had adequate knowledge, female students
had higher levels of knowledge than males. 92 (49.7%)
of the participants undertook safe practice of using
audio devices, whereas 93 (50.3%) had remarkably
unsafe practices. The factors associated with adequate
levels of knowledge were among younger age groups,
female gender, parents’ education who did more than
high school. The most common impact experienced by
using PAD was insomnia (41.1%) numbness of the ear
(11.6%) was the least common effect of using PAD.
Keywords :
PADs, Earphones, Headphones, Teenagers, Students, Knowledge, Unsafe Practice, Impact, Hearing
