Survey of ownership and use of mobile phones among medical science students in Yazd.

Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS · 2009 · Unclear · Low evidence

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UnclearLow evidencePaper 3368

Study snapshot

PublicationPakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS · 2009

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

As the use of mobile phones is increasing every day, public concern about possible adverse health effects of exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (rf-emf) is also growing. Despite the extensive use of mobile phones, little is known about the pattern of mobile phone ownership and its use by the general population and students. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of ownership and use of mobile phones in medical science students and their views about any possible negative effects. The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 309 selected Medical Science students who were selected from Yazd Medical Sciences University using a self administrated questionnaire. The mean talking time and listening to music on the mobile phone was 28.3 +/- 50.5 and 51.9 +/- 81.5 min day(-1), respectively. They also received or sent a mean of 18.8 +/- 37 text messages. Participants reported that location wise, the use of cell phones at home was 87.2% followed by street (79.6%), classroom (37.6%), during driving (18.6%) and in the library (17.8%), respectively. Keeping at pace with changes in community and technology, including mobile phones and their effects on university environments, it seems that responsible departments or managers must predict their possible effects and establish new regulations, accordingly.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecross_sectional

Effect directionunclear

PopulationMedical science students at Yazd Medical Sciences University

Sample size309

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a cross-sectional questionnaire study of 309 medical science students, mean reported mobile phone talking time was 28.3 ± 50.5 minutes/day and mean music listening time was 51.9 ± 81.5 minutes/day; participants reported sending/receiving a mean of 18.8 ± 37 text messages. Reported locations of use were most commonly at home (87.2%) and on the street (79.6%), with lower use in classrooms (37.6%), during driving (18.6%), and in the library (17.8%).

Outcomes measured

Mobile phone ownership and use patterns (talking time, music listening time, text messaging frequency)
Locations of mobile phone use (home, street, classroom, driving, library)
Views about possible negative effects of mobile phones

Limitations

Cross-sectional design
Self-administered questionnaire (self-report)
No RF-EMF exposure metrics reported (e.g., frequency, SAR)
Sample limited to one university (generalizability may be limited)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Medical science students at Yazd Medical Sciences University",
  "sample_size": 309,
  "outcomes": [
    "Mobile phone ownership and use patterns (talking time, music listening time, text messaging frequency)",
    "Locations of mobile phone use (home, street, classroom, driving, library)",
    "Views about possible negative effects of mobile phones"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a cross-sectional questionnaire study of 309 medical science students, mean reported mobile phone talking time was 28.3 ± 50.5 minutes/day and mean music listening time was 51.9 ± 81.5 minutes/day; participants reported sending/receiving a mean of 18.8 ± 37 text messages. Reported locations of use were most commonly at home (87.2%) and on the street (79.6%), with lower use in classrooms (37.6%), during driving (18.6%), and in the library (17.8%).",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Cross-sectional design",
    "Self-administered questionnaire (self-report)",
    "No RF-EMF exposure metrics reported (e.g., frequency, SAR)",
    "Sample limited to one university (generalizability may be limited)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "students",
    "questionnaire",
    "ownership",
    "use patterns",
    "Yazd"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Includes classroom/university environment phone use, though not Wi‑Fi specifically."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2009.1430.1433
PubMed: 20128515

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