Affiliations: School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Lap Ah TSE, MB, PhD, Department
of Community & Family Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4/F
School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR,
China. Tel.: +86 852 2252 8791; Fax: +86 852 2606 3500;
E-mail:~shelly@cuhk.edu.hk
Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the pattern of
computer related activities among Hong Kong adolescents and the prevalence of
musculoskeletal discomfort by anatomic sites. This study used a
questionnaire-based cross-sectional design. Students from Year 1 to 7 of six
local high schools were invited to complete a Student Musculoskeletal Health
Questionnaire and Computer Usage Questionnaire. Complete data for 3,191
questionnaires was obtained, giving an overall response rate of 95.5%. High
prevalence (68.3%) of musculoskeletal discomfort related to using computer
was reported among Hong Kong children and adolescents in the past 12 months.
Shoulder (37.7%) and neck (35.0%) were the most frequently involved body
parts for both genders, while female students reported higher rates of
musculoskeletal discomfort in each of the specified anatomic site than male
students. Students who reported musculoskeletal discomfort were significantly
older and spent a longer time on computer related activities. The associations
found in this cross-sectional study should be confirmed by subsequent
longitudinal studies. An urgent need in healthy computing environment is
demanded among Hong Kong adolescents.
