title: Health effects of digital textbooks on school-age children: a grounded theory approach.
abstract: This qualitative study used the grounded theory approach to analyze digital textbook-related health experiences of school-age children. In-depth interviews were held with 40 elementary school students who had used digital textbooks for at least a year. Data analysis revealed a total of 56 concepts, 20 subcategories, and 11 categories related to digital textbook health issues, the central phenomena being "health-related experiences." Students' health-related experiences were classified into "physical" and "psychological" symptoms. Adverse health effects related to digital textbook usage were addressed via both "student-led" and "instructor-led" coping strategies. Students' coping strategies were often inefficient, but instructor-led strategies seemed to prevent health problems. When health issues were well managed, students tended to accept digital textbooks as educational tools. Our findings suggest that students can form healthy computer habits if digital textbook usage is directed in a positive manner.
authors.affiliation: Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyeongae
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seomun
authors.forename: Jung-Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Meeyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Miran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun-A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Youngjin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001877:Books; D002648:Child; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D056910:Republic of Korea
keywords: digital textbooks; grounded theory; health; qualitative study