Patterns of Smartphone-Induced Hand Discomfort Among Healthcare Professionals: An Occupational Health Study
Keywords:
Smartphone use; Hand pain; Occupational health; Musculoskeletal disorders; Healthcare professionals; Ergonomics; Repetitive strain.Abstract
Increasing smartphone use among healthcare professionals has introduced new occupational health concerns related to repetitive hand movements and prolonged device use. This occupational health study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of smartphone-related hand discomfort among healthcare professionals. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire regarding daily smartphone use, work patterns, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Thumb pain, wrist discomfort, reduced grip endurance, and intermittent finger stiffness were the most commonly reported complaints. Symptom severity increased with prolonged continuous device use and frequent one-handed typing. Short rest intervals, ergonomic device handling, and regular stretching exercises were associated with reduced symptom frequency. The findings emphasize the importance of ergonomic awareness and preventive strategies in minimizing technology-related musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare workers.
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Copyright (c) 2019 Dr. Haralampos Manolis (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
© The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction, adaptation, and commercial use in any medium, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and the source, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are indicated.
