Effect of Awareness Strategy on Prevention of Digital Eye Strain among Nursing Students in COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Abstract

Background: Prevention of the new technology followings is a great challenge. Eye health complications become one of the most urgent threats that should be fought. Aim: To evaluate the effect of implementing an awareness strategy on prevention of digital eye strain (DES) among nursing students in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Setting: This study was conducted at Faculty of Nursing -Kafr-Elsheikh University. Research Design: A quasi experimental design (one group pretest/ posttest) was utilized to conduct this study. Sampling: A stratified random sample from the nursing college included 128 students. Tools: Three tools were used. Tool I: Self-Administered Questionnaire consisted of three parts. 1 st part: The socio-demographic data. 2 nd part: Digital device use among nursing students; 3 rd part: Assessing the nursing students' knowledge regarding DES. Tool II: Student reported practice checklist, used for assessing nursing students' practices toward DES preventive measures among students. Tool III: Students' DES perception scale. Results: A significant difference was found between students' total knowledge scores (19.5%, 77.3%) pre and post-respectively. There was a highly statistical significant improvement toward all DES preventive measures' practices among students post application than pre. DES preventive measures practice scores were (18.8%, 69.5%) pre & post application respectively. A highly significant difference was found between students' positive perception level pre and postapplication (18% & 97%) respectively. Conclusion: The awareness strategy regarding DES had a highly significant positive effect on improving the nursing students' knowledge, preventive measures' practices and perception regarding DES. Recommendation: Developing training programs for all nursing students as a frequent computer and digital devices users as part of education.