RAJIV GANDHI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES BANGALORE, KARNATAKA.
SYNOPSIS PROFORMA FOR REGISTRATION OF SUBJECT FOR DESSERTATION.
1 / NAME OF THE CANDIDATE AND ADDRESS / Mr. MANOJ THAMPY1st YEAR M.Sc. NURSING STUDENT,
KARNATAKA COLLEGE OF NURSING
HEGDE NAGAR, BANGLORE
2 / NAME OF THE INSTITUTION / KARNATAKA COLLEGE OF NURSING, THIRUMENAHALLY, HEGDE NAGAR, BANGLORE-64, KARNATAKA.
3 / COURSE OF STUDY AND SUBJECT / MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING(MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING)
4 / DATE OF ADMISSION TO THE COURSE / 20th MAY 2010
5 / TITLE OF THE TOPIC / EFFECTIVENESS OF STRUCTURED TEACHING PROGRAMME ON KNOWLEDGE REGARDING SELECTED HEALTH HAZARDS OF USE OF MOBILE PHONE AMONG STUDENTS IN SELECTED PRE-UNIVERSITY COLLEGES AT BENGALURU.
6. BRIEF STUDY OF THE INDENTED WORK
INTRODUCTION
“Don’t waste the ship for a ha’porth of tar”
Man is a social animal. He has his own ideas and thought. Sharing these ideas is the common right of an individual .In other words communication is an indispensable factor of every individual. Communication can be regarded as a two way process of exchanging or shaping ideas, feelings, and information. Communication refers to exchanging information through verbal or written means, that is, any means of exchanging information or feelings between two or more people. Broadly it refers “to the countless ways that humans have of keeping in touch with one another”. Communication is a complex process. It has the following main components: sender (source), receiver (audience), message (content), channels (medium), feedback (effect). Channels are the vital components of communication. The effectiveness of channel is the key for the effective communication. The channel of communication implies the physical bridges or the media of communication between the sender and receiver. The channel can be visual, auditory, or tactile. It includes face-to-face communication, mass media, telephone or written records. Proper and effective channel helps to overcome the barriers of communication. 1
Communication has prevailed since ancient days. During the earlier era, people used face-to-face, verbal and nonverbal methods of communication as their communication channels. But now man has invented more sophisticated methods of communication. In this context, telecom plays an important role. It refers to transfer of information between two distant points in space it includes postal, telegraph, telephone, mobile phones and internet. Nowadays the popular meaning of telecom has changed to electrical signals and people exclude postal and any other methods of telecommunication from its meaning.1
Mobile telephony is without doubt one of the most explosive developments ever to have taken place in the telecommunication industry. There has been an enormous increase in mobile phone usage throughout the world. As of June-2009, there were more than 4.3 billion users worldwide. In India the real growth in telecom sector came with the announcement of National Telecom Policy in 1994. The Indian telecommunication industry is the world’s fastest growing telecommunication industry, with 688.38 million telephones (landline and mobile) subscribers and 652.42 million mobile phone connections as of July 2010. As the fast growing telecommunication industry in the world, it is projected that India will have 1.159 billion mobile subscribers by 2013. In 2008-2009, rural India outpaced urban India in mobile growth rate. 2
The use of mobile phones among adolescents and the youths, especially college-goers, has dramatically increased over the past few years. The major criteria for this phenomenon has been greater availability, easy accessibility, lowered cost of mobile phones, peer group pressure so on and so forth. Besides, teenagers, nowadays, receive a steady flow of pocket money which enables them to purchase and maintain mobile phones. Teenagers use it, predominantly, to foster new friendships, especially with the opposite sex, to remain in touch with old friends and to store personnel information.3
Without doubt, mobile telephony offers enormous advantages- added convenience, greater personnel security and the ability to take advantage of dead time to do business on the move. But the picture isn’t all rosy. Like most young technologies, mobile telephony is experiencing its share of teething troubles, including concern about environmental impact, health and safety, and, of course, the social changes being wrought by a technology in which, by making us permanently contactable, is having a profound effect on our interpersonal interaction.4
6.1 NEED FOR THE STUDY
“A stitch in time saves nine”
The Indian telecommunication industry is the second largest telecommunication network in the world in terms of number of wireless connections after China. Projections by several leading mobile consultancies indicate that the total number of subscribers in India will exceed the total subscriber count in China by 2013. A large population, low telephony penetration levels, and a rise in consumers' income and spending owing to strong economic growth have helped in making India the fastest-growing telecom market in the world.2
Mobile telecommunications system in India was thrown open to private players in the 1990s. Government and several private players run local and long distance telephone services. Competition has caused prices to drop and as a result calls across India are one of the cheapest in the world. The dominant players are Airtel, Reliance Info come, Vodafone, Idea cellular and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, which provide numerous offers to attracts users because of which, the number of mobile telephony consumers has increased many folds.2
Indian telecom is adding more than10 million subscribers per month. Tele density of Karnataka circle is 41.19. The tele-density of Bangalore alone is estimated as 80%. In Karnataka, bengaluru has got the highest number of mobile phone users. Latest statistics indicates that, among these users, the college goers and youngsters have a remarkable dominance.2
Nowadays, Mobile phone is not just an accessory, but it has replaced many other items as it has become a multi-utility device. From maintaining time to setting reminders, from capturing images and sound bites to providing light, its usage is bound to grow further. 5 To put in a nut shell, Mobile phones are now ubiquitous in our lives. Be it for calling or connecting with people, sending short messages, contacting family, friends, etc. It has now become a dating device and with companies offering friendship options. With downloads on astrology, news, sports and ’shero- shayari’ being provided it has also become an information tool.6
Apart from these obvious reasons, there are certain other factors that attract young minds to Mobile phones. The rapid increase in the number of applications available on mobile phones such as internet, e-mail, and face book have been the most attractive feature for the youth.6
One of the most important reasons for enhanced use of mobile tones, mobile logos, screensavers, etc., among young people involves their need to be accepted in peer groups. An analysis of behavioral patterns among young mobile phone users show that for a large number of college going kids, downloading different types of ringtones has become one of the most popular ways, through which they can gain acceptance among certain groups in their immediate social circle. Many of them believe that the real ringtones or mp3 ringtones that emanate from their phones would make them "cool" and "happening" among their friends, family members and acquaintances.6
Another reason that attracts young people to mobile phones is the enhanced functionality of these devices. They can use them for writing down addresses, looking at the time, listening to music, as photo albums or as alarm clocks. Consequently, youngsters feel incomplete without their mobile phone Moreover most young people have their own identities, idiosyncrasies and attitude that they want to flaunt among peers and friends. As a result of these factors there has been a tremendous increase in mobile telephony among youngsters, even amongst the middle class.6
The above mentioned facts show that there has been a rapid development of wireless technology and along with that an increased uses of wireless telephone communication during the last decade, in India. Everyone is exposed to radiofrequency/microwave (RF) radiation emissions from wireless devices such as cellular phones and cordless phones, cellular antennas and towers, broadcast transmission towers, voice and data transmission for cellular phones, pagers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other sources of Radio Frequency radiation. This has raised concern of health risks; including increased risk for brain tumours, sleep disturbances, concerns about sterility, genetic damages, etc.7
A few studies have shown that long term usage of mobile phones raises the risk of brain tumors. Six of eight interphone studies published by the Daily Telegraph shows that a definite rise in the risk of glioma (the most common brain tumor), with one finding a 39 plus percent increase. Two of seven studies about acoustic neuroma reported a higher risk after using mobile for 10 years. A Swedish report said it was 3.9 times higher. An Israeli study found that heavy users were about 50 percent more likely to suffer tumors of the parotid salivary gland.8 A study by the institute of environmental medicine (IMM) at Karolina Institute, Sweden, said that the increase in risk was confined to the side of the head where the phone is usually held.9 It has been suggested that electromagnetic fields associated with mobile phones may play a vital role in speeding up the development of an existing cancer.
Researches show that using the handsets before bed causes people to take longer to reach the deeper stages of sleep and to spend less time in them, interfering with the body's ability to repair damage suffered during the day. The findings are especially alarming for children and teenagers, most of whom – surveys suggest – use their phones late at night and who especially need sleep. Their failure to get enough sleep can lead to mood and personality changes, depression, lack of concentration and poor academic performance.10 "It is adamant/necessary to increase the awareness among youngsters about the negative effects of excessive mobile phone use on their sleep-wake patterns, with serious health risks as well as attention and cognitive problems," said Dr. Badre.11
A study titled ‘Effect of cell phone usage on semen analysis in men attending infertility clinic: an observational study’ came to the following conclusion: our results suggest that the use of cell phones by men is associated with a decrease in semen quality. The decrease in sperm count, motility, viability, and normal morphology is related to the duration of exposure to cell phones. However, there have been many studies that have analyzed the mobile phone usage of men and the effect on the subsequent provided semen. One such study concludes that just carrying a mobile phone affects human sperm: Storage of mobile phones close to the testes had a significant negative impact on sperm concentration and the percentage of motile sperm. These trends suggest that recent concerns over long-term exposure to the electromagnetic irradiation emitted by mobile phones should be taken more seriously, given the growing trend for deterioration in the male germ line. Conclusively it can be said that mobile phone use has a negative impact on sperm quality. The longer one uses a mobile phone per day, the greater the impact on the sperm. Mobile phone use can therefore be considered to be a cause of infertility in men.12
An increasing number of Indian adolescents are being diagnosed with some level of hearing loss, and the rate at which this is happening has climbed substantially over the past two decades. Loud music that hurts the inner ear, and excessive use of mobile phones are definitely the main factors contributing to this new trend," says Dr Sanjay Sachdeva, Director of Department of Ear Nose Throat at Max Healthcare.13
Many users of mobile handsets have reported feeling several unspecific symptoms during and after its use such as burning and tingling sensation on the skin of the head and extremities, fatigue, sleep disturbance, dizziness, loss of mental attention, abnormalities in reaction times, memory retentiveness, headache, malaise, tachycardia and disturbance in the digestive system.14 In addition, the use of mobile phones has also been related to Alzheimer’s disease and it increases the resting blood pressure and reduces the production of melatonin.15
The investigator has discovered a progressive increase in the use of mobile phones by students, inside the campus, leading to difficulty in concentrating on academic activities, unhealthy friendships, poor interaction, hearing problem, irritability in mood and sleeping disturbances. Moreover, authorities in these institutions find it an unmanageable situation in spite of repeated warnings. Also, it is note-worthy that the incidence of physical, psychological, and environmental hazards, due to indiscriminate use of mobile phones, is on the rise. Nevertheless, with sound advice and proper health education, these faulty practices can be curbed and the need for educating them is of utmost importance. Thus, it has motivated the investigator to study the selected health hazards of use of mobile phones amongst students.
6.2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Review of literature refers to an extensive, exhaustive and systematic examination of publications relevant to the research project. The review of literature is defined as a broad, comprehensive in dept, systemic and critical review of scholarly publication, unpublished scholarly print materials, audiovisual materials and personal communications.24 A literature review in a quantitative study can help to shape research questions, contribute to the argument about the need for a new study, suggest appropriate methods, and point to a conceptual or theoretical frame work.25
A study was conducted to investigate the effects of long-term exposure to microwaves from cellular phones an increased risk of brain tumours. Researchers performed an in-depth analysis of research on the health risks associated with microwave exposure from wireless phones.On the basis of the study researchers conclude that the current standard of exposure to microwave during mobile phone use is not safe for long-term exposure.16
An experimental study conducted to evaluate connection between Excessive Mobile Phone Use and Affects on Sleep among Teens. The study focused on 21 healthy subjects, between 14-20 years of age, with regular working/studying hours and without sleep problems. The subjects were broken up into two groups: a control group (three men, seven women) and the experimental group (three men, eight women). The control group made less than five calls and/or sent five text messages a day, while the experimental group made more than 15 calls and/or sent 15 text messages a day. The subjects were then asked questions regarding their lifestyle and sleep habits. According to the results, when compared to subjects with restricted use of cell phones, young people with excessive use of cell phones (both talking and text messaging) have increased restlessness with more careless lifestyles, more consumption of stimulating beverages, difficulty in falling asleep and disrupted sleep, and more susceptibility to stress and fatigue. They behave more like larks than owls, suggesting a delayed biological clock.11