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Weaknesses of research methodologies on musculoskeletal disorders associated with mobile touch-screen devices
Ali Elghomati1, Adham Mackieh1, Tareq Babaqi1,2
1Department of Industrial Engineering, Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimagusa, Cyprus.
Abstract:
The objective of the currently study is to point out the weaknesses of some recent researches, which were done about the effects or symptoms of using Touch Screen Mobile Devices on the human musculoskeletal system. In this article, we reviewed the research processes performed in recent 26 randomly selected papers about musculoskeletal disorder to clarify the common weaknesses of these published articles. The electronic database search and reference search were conducted in four different databases: Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. We noticed that none of the reviewed papers had performed the experimental design phase of a scientific research. Additionally they had not validated the assumptions of the statistical methods used in their researches. Therefore, their findings are doubtful. In this article, we proposed practical outlines for a reliable experimental research.
Insights
Recent studies on touch screen mobile device use and musculoskeletal issues reveal significant methodological flaws. Researchers must improve experimental design and statistical validation for reliable findings on mobile device-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Ergonomics
- Public Health
Background:
- Touch screen mobile device usage is prevalent globally.
- Increasing reports link device use to musculoskeletal symptoms.
- Existing research on these effects requires critical evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify common methodological weaknesses in recent research on touch screen mobile device effects on the musculoskeletal system.
- To critically review 26 selected papers on musculoskeletal disorders related to device use.
- To propose improvements for future research design.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 26 randomly selected research papers.
- Searches conducted in Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases.
- Analysis focused on research process, experimental design, and statistical validation.
Main Results:
- None of the reviewed studies included a proper experimental design phase.
- Statistical method assumptions were not validated in any of the selected papers.
- The findings reported in the reviewed literature are therefore considered doubtful.
Conclusions:
- Current research on touch screen mobile device use and musculoskeletal disorders suffers from critical methodological limitations.
- Lack of rigorous experimental design and statistical validation undermines the reliability of existing findings.
- Implementing robust experimental outlines is crucial for future research in this area.
