Potential Adverse Health Outcomes of Digital Textbook Use: Teachers' Perspectives

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The digital textbook (DT) is an appealing new educational medium. The positive effects of DT use include stimulation of interest in learning and stimulation of motivation to learn. Few studies have examined the awareness of classroom-based educational experts about the adverse health outcomes of DT use. The objective of this study was to understand the perspectives of elementary schoolteachers regarding the effects of DT use on students' health. METHODS: The recommended method of focus group discussions was used to clarify teachers' individual and shared views about this topic. The study design included three discussions with three different groups of teachers. RESULTS: The results indicated that the critical health issues identified by the schoolteachers were potential risks to physical health, risks to psychological health, and environmental health risks in the classroom. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Awareness and evaluation of adverse health effects for DT users is an important first step for effective DT implementation in our schools. This study provided fundamental data and results that can be used to understand the effects of DT use on student health and to suggest guidelines to predict and prevent adverse health effects in the users of this technology.