title: A comparison of carpal tunnel syndrome between digital and paper textbook users in elementary schools.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are advantages to using digital textbooks, but also health concerns yet to be evaluated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the use of digital textbooks' effects on carpal tunnel, considered one of the potential health risks in students using digital textbooks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from 43 elementary school students in the sixth grade, selected from two groups who had used digital and paper textbooks, respectively. To assess carpal tunnel function, this study performed median motor nerve and median sensory nerve conduction studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences between the groups, indicating that there were no functional differences related to carpal tunnel syndrome between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Usage of digital textbook is expanding nationwide in the Republic of Korea. There is no short-term risk of carpal tunnel syndrome in this population of elementary school students.
authors.affiliation: Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: GyeongAe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seomun
authors.affiliation: Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Bom
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Pyun
authors.affiliation: University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jung-Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Pyeongtaek University, Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wonjung
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Noh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration; D013782:Textbooks as Topic; D000078329:Workforce; D014953:Wrist / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014956:Writing
keywords: Child; digital textbook; school