The use of interactive panels in the classroom and health of schoolchildren
Background: In contemporary conditions of digital transformation of education, the medical community, teachers, and parents are concerned about health effects of electronic learning tools in children. The emergence of new types of digital tools necessitates studies of related fatigue of schoolchildren in the dynamics of learning. A questionnaire-based survey of pupils aimed to establish their main complaints attributed to the use interactive panels, the most common type of educational boards in the classroom, helps identify and analyze weaknesses from the point of view of health maintenance in organization of the educational process. Objective: To study specific health effects of interactive panels used in the classroom in fifth-year pupils. Materials and methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 130 schoolchildren aged 11 years to establish their self-rated health, visual functions, risk factors and educational experience related to the use ofinteractive displays. Data processing was carried out using nonparametric methods of statistical analysis; relative risk values were established according to the rules of evidence-based medicine. Results: Some pupils, especially those with vision impairment, had complaints indicative of general and visual fatigue following the exposure to interactive panels. Inappropriate or excessive use of the interactive display in the classroom increased the frequency of such complaints. Conclusion: The reported adverse factors including bright light from the display, small and fuzzy image, rising temperature in the classroom, etc., defined preventive measures to be implemented for ensuring safe learning conditions.