Validating self-reported mobile phone use in adults using a newly developed smartphone application

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Mobile Technology

Background:

• Accurate exposure assessment is crucial for understanding mobile phone health effects.
• Self-reported data in epidemiological studies often contain uncertainties.
• Smartphone applications offer a novel method for objective exposure assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate self-reported mobile phone use and behavior using a newly developed smartphone application.
• To assess the accuracy of self-reported call duration, laterality, and hands-free device usage.
• To improve radiofrequency (RF) exposure models in epidemiological research.

Main Methods:

• A smartphone application recorded mobile phone usage (calls, data, laterality, hands-free) for 107 participants over 4 weeks.
• Self-reported usage data were collected before app use and after 6 months via questionnaires.
• Statistical analysis compared recorded data with self-reported data using geometric mean ratios and Spearman correlations.

Main Results:

• Self-reported call duration showed moderate correlation (r=0.57) with recorded data.
• Participants held phones near the head for 86% of call time.
• Reported laterality and hands-free device use correlated with recorded usage patterns.

Conclusions:

• Smartphone app data provide a more precise measure of mobile phone use compared to self-reports alone.
• Observed recall errors in laterality and hands-free use can refine RF exposure models.
• This validated approach enhances the reliability of epidemiological studies on mobile phone health impacts.