An Experimental Study of Effects of Media Implication on Self-Report Symptoms Related With Mobile Phone Use

Abstract

An Experimental Study of Effects of Media Implication on Self-Report Symptoms Related With Mobile Phone Use Gao P, Zheng F-Z, He M-D, Li M, Deng P, Zhou Z, Yu Z-P, Zhang L. An Experimental Study of Effects of Media Implication on Self-Report Symptoms Related With MP Use. Front. Public Health, 13 May 2020 | doi.org. Along with gradual increases in mobile phone (MP) use, the mass media has played a vital role in informing the public regarding the potential health hazards of MP use. These media warnings have prompted public worries about health. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of media warnings about the possible health hazards of MP use on self-reported symptoms. Participants were 703 undergraduate students who volunteered to take part in an experimental study between August 2013 and July 2015. After completing baseline questionnaires containing information on demographics, MP usage and possible confounding variables, the participants were randomly clustered assigned to a video treatment group (watching a 5-min video about the possible health hazards of MP use) or a control group. Then, they completed another set of questionnaires containing 6 self-reported physical symptoms and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Chi-squared tests, Mann-Whitney U-tests and logistic regression models were applied in the data analysis. Participants in the video group reported significantly more frequent headache (P = 0.01), fatigue (P = 0.00), memory loss (P = 0.03), inattention (P = 0.00), and higher level of depression (P = 0.05) than those in the control group. Additionally, the prevalence of memory loss (β = 0.071, P = 0.03) and inattention (β = 0.110, P = 0.00) were significantly higher in participants with higher level of depression who watched the video. Media warnings about the possible health hazards of MP use promote people to report physical symptoms and psychological problems. Considering this tendency, more moderate and scientific media information is needed to alleviate public worries about MP use. Open access paper: frontiersin.org

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Undergraduate participants randomized to watch a 5-minute video about possible health hazards of mobile phone use reported significantly more frequent headache, fatigue, memory loss, and inattention, and a higher level of depression than controls. Memory loss and inattention were reported more often among participants with higher depression levels who watched the video.

Outcomes measured

• Self-reported physical symptoms (headache, fatigue, memory loss, inattention; 6 symptoms total)
• Depression (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI)

Limitations

• Exposure was media warning/video implication rather than measured EMF/RF exposure
• Outcomes were self-reported symptoms and questionnaire-based depression measure
• Specific symptom list (all 6) not fully detailed in the abstract
• No RF parameters (frequency, SAR) or actual phone-use exposure levels reported in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.2)
  Addresses perceived health hazards and symptom reporting related to mobile phone use, relevant to broader RF health-risk communication context.

{
    "study_type": "randomized_trial",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "5-min video intervention about possible health hazards of mobile phone use"
    },
    "population": "Undergraduate students",
    "sample_size": 703,
    "outcomes": [
        "Self-reported physical symptoms (headache, fatigue, memory loss, inattention; 6 symptoms total)",
        "Depression (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Undergraduate participants randomized to watch a 5-minute video about possible health hazards of mobile phone use reported significantly more frequent headache, fatigue, memory loss, and inattention, and a higher level of depression than controls. Memory loss and inattention were reported more often among participants with higher depression levels who watched the video.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure was media warning/video implication rather than measured EMF/RF exposure",
        "Outcomes were self-reported symptoms and questionnaire-based depression measure",
        "Specific symptom list (all 6) not fully detailed in the abstract",
        "No RF parameters (frequency, SAR) or actual phone-use exposure levels reported in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "mobile phone",
        "media warnings",
        "nocebo",
        "self-reported symptoms",
        "headache",
        "fatigue",
        "memory loss",
        "inattention",
        "depression",
        "Beck Depression Inventory",
        "experimental study"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Addresses perceived health hazards and symptom reporting related to mobile phone use, relevant to broader RF health-risk communication context."
        }
    ]
}

Comments

Log in to comment.

No comments yet.