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Background: Reaction time is the elapsed time between presentation of a sensory stimulus and the subsequent behavioural response. Time taken to respond to visual stimulus gives visual reaction time. In the modern world, the usage of computers for occupational purpose is increasing with increased duration of usage, especially in IT profession. Few studies have been done on reaction time in mobile phone users and video game players, but no study is done in occupational computer users.Objective: To compare visual reaction time between occupational computer users (use computer for work >40hrs/week) and the controls (recreational computer users : <15hrs/week) Materials and Method: Study was done on 30 occupational computer users (use computer for work >40hrs/ week) and 30 recreational computer users (<15hrs/week) in the age group 20-35 years, after institutional ethical committee clearance and consent from all subjects. Visual Reaction Time was measured using Human Benchmark Software. Student's t test was used for statistical analysis and p value <0.05 taken statistically significant.Results: Results showed a statistically significant decrease in visual reaction time in occupational computer users with a p value of 0.01 Conclusion:Usage of computer for longer hours especially for occupational purpose decreases the visual reaction time in the individuals when compared with those who use it for lesser hours like recreational purpose.

BACKGROUND: Stress in the workplace is becoming the most common complaint of the late 20 th century employee. It is a costly, pervasive phenomenon in work organizations and many studies have been carried out in the west to investigate this area of human concern. India being the Information Technology (IT) hub with lakhs involved as IT Professionals, there is a need to assess prevalence of professional stress in this area. OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between hours of exposure to computer and stress in IT professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a crosssectional study conducted using stress questionnaire like Form X of the STAI (Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1970). This study was conducted specifically on 21 male professionals aged 34.52±7.85 yrs., working in an IT firm with the designation of a software engineer. STATISTICAL METHODS: Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study. RESULTS: 52.4% of the subjects who worked for less than 8 hrs. /day with computers had stress score of 40.82±8.99. 47.65% of the subjects who were exposed to computers for more than 8 hrs./day had stress score of 46.30±10.01.This study revealed positive correlation between between hours of computer use and stress levels in these subjects (P=0.008). CONCLUSION: We found positive associations between hours of computer use and stress levels in this cross-sectional study of IT professionals. Such high stress scores could hinder the progress of these IT professionals and could predispose them for the development of psychiatric disorders.

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