Ahmed AE, Mojiri ME, Mobarki OA, Suwaid OA, Kariri HM, Suwaydi AZ, Moafa FY, Alhelali YA, Abo Sarhad TN, Al Obaid OS, Almutlaq AS, Alhussain JA, Samkari KI, Gharwi NA, and Akkam FM
Background: The pervasive use of mobile phones has raised concerns about their impact on musculoskeletal health, particularly neck pain. This issue is notably relevant in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, where high mobile phone usage intersects with demographic diversity. While extensive phone use has been linked to neck pain and other musculoskeletal disorders globally, specific data on this issue in the Eastern Province are limited. This study addresses this gap by examining phone use patterns, neck positions, and associated symptoms in the region., Methods: Using an online, self-administered survey, this cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between phone use and neck pain in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Participants aged 18 years and older were recruited via social media, community groups, and university networks. The survey collected data on demographics, phone use patterns, neck positions, awareness of health risks, and pain symptoms. It was pre-tested, administered through Google Forms (Google, Mountain View, CA), and available for four weeks. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations with SPSS 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY)., Results: The study included 400 participants, with 273 females (68.3%) and 127 males (31.8%). Most participants were single (245, 61.3%) and held a university degree (301, 75.3%). Daily phone use varied: 228 participants (57.0%) used their phones for less than five hours daily, while 43 (10.8%) used them for 10-15 hours or more. Neck positions ranged from 0° to 60°, with 168 participants (42.0%) maintaining a 30° angle. Awareness of health risks associated with phone use was high, with 364 participants (91.0%) aware of these risks. Neck pain was reported by 244 participants (61.0%), with additional symptoms including headache (22 participants, 5.5%) and upper back pain (five participants, 1.3%)., Conclusion: This study found a significant link between prolonged phone use and neck pain in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Despite high awareness of the risks, many individuals report discomfort. These findings underscore the need for public health interventions and ergonomic education to improve phone use practices and musculoskeletal health., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Jazan University Institutional Review Board issued approval 2024. This study was conducted according to the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Jazan University Institutional Review Board. Informed consent was obtained from all participants before their involvement in the study. Participants were assured of their right to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. All personal data were anonymized to maintain confidentiality and ensure privacy. The survey responses were stored securely and used solely for this research. The study adhered to ethical guidelines for the use of human subjects in research, and the researchers declared no conflict of interest. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Ahmed et al.)