ASSOCIATION OF EXCESSIVE MOBILE PHONE USAGE WITH SLEEP QUALITY AND FATIGUE SEVERITY: AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEY IN SAUDI POPULATION

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of mobile phone usage on sleep quality and fatigue severity through standard questionnaires in Saudi Arabia mobile phone users. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 251 mobile phone users from September 2019 to January 2020. Volunteer mobile phone users aging 15-65 years were selected by nonprobability convenience sampling technique from the Riyadh city community. The subjects were interviewed about the knowledge, attitude and practice of mobile phone use and were assessed through Pittsburg Sleep Quality index (PSQI) and Fatigue severity scale (FSS). Spearman’s correlations and Linear regression were applied for statistical analysis through SPSS V.22. RESULTS: Mean age of study participates was 32.43±12.8 years. There was a significant increase in PSQI and FSS with the increase daily mobile usage. When participants exceeded one-hour daily usage, PSQI (2h=6.85, p= 0.001) and FSS (2h= 3.61, p=0.008) exceeded acceptable scores. Moreover, placing mobile phone inside bedroom was associated with the increase of PSQI (Near Pillow=6.93, Inside Bed=6.16, Outside bed=5.75, p=0.001) and FSS (Near Pillow=3.65, Inside Bed=3.39, Outside Bed=2.58, p= 0.008). There was a significant increase in PSQI (Near Pillow=6.93, Inside Bed=6.16, Outside bed=5.75, p=0.001) and FSS (Near Pillow=3.65, Inside Bed=3.39, Outside Bed=2.58, p= 0.008) its location inside bedrooms. Significant correlation was observed between high PSQI and FSS with daily usage (r=0.213, p=0.001 & r=0.171, p=0.01 respectively). CONCLUSION: Inappropriate and excessive mobile phone usage is associated with poor sleep quality and excessive fatigue in Saudi Arabian population.