Prevalence, knowledge and predictors of Text Neck Syndrome among undergraduate students in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India: a cross-sectional study

Background: Young adults' extensive use of smartphones has resulted in several health concerns and one of which is Text Neck Syndrome. Prolonged neck flexion during smartphone use can lead to neck pain, disability and functional limitations. The study focused on determining the prevalence and knowledge regarding Text Neck Syndrome and identify predicting factors associated with the condition. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 240 undergraduate students selected using convenience method of sampling from four colleges in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. A standardized questionnaire with questions on demographics, participant behaviour and understanding of text neck syndrome was used to gather data. Two standardized tools neck disability index and the smartphone addiction scale-short version were used with prior permission to assess neck disability and smartphone addiction.8,9 Results: The results demonstrated that, prevalence of Text Neck Syndrome among the participants discovered to be 35.8% (95% CI:29.8%–42.3%) and 41.0% participants had smartphone addiction. Majority (71.7%) participants had adequate knowledge regarding Text Neck Syndrome and smartphone addiction was identified as a significant independent predictor of Text Neck Syndrome, with 2.2 times higher odds of developing the condition. Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation found between smartphone addiction and neck disability. Conclusions: Text Neck Syndrome is a prevalent health issue among undergraduate students in Meghalaya, affecting more than one-third of the study population. Although most of the participants had adequate knowledge regarding text neck syndrome, the occurrence of the syndrome suggests the need of targeted educational, ergonomic and behavioural interventions among young adults.