Mobi-Expo: Using software modified smartphortes to characterize mobile phone use in children, adolescents, and young adults

摘要

Background The rapid increase in mobile phone use in young people has generated concern about possible health effects of exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields. The objective of Mobi-Expo is to conduct a multinational study to characterise the use of mobile phones in young people and to improve RF exposure assessment within the framework of MOBI-Kids, the case-control study of brain tumours risk in young people. Specific objectives include: characterize mobile phone use habits; characterize the laterality of mobile phone use; estimate the proportion of use of different types of networks; and validate self-reported mobile phone use in MOBI-Kids. Methods Mobi-Expo is collecting data in MOBI-Kids countries from volunteers using (1) provided software modified smartphones (SMSPs) and (2) their own Android smartphones. On the SMSPs and the volunteer-owned phones a software application (API - XMobiSense) is installed to record data on phone use and characteristics. The study is conducted with volunteers from three age groups: 10-14,15-19, and 20-24 years (covering the MOBI-Kids age range). The subjects are selected to represent both sexes, a range of socio-economic strata, and geographical areas covered by MOBI-kids. In each country Mobi-Expo is conducted on at least 90 subjects (30 per age group). These 90 subjects are divided into 45 non-Android users (who receive an SMSP) and 45 Android users (who install the API on their phone). Phone use characteristics will be evaluated, and phone use recorded by the API will be compared to information obtained from MOBI-Kids-based questionnaires answered six months later. Results Volunteer recruitment began in October 2012 in three countries (Australia, Spain, and the Netherlands). The presentation will focus on the first results from these countries. Data collection will continue in remaining countries through 2013. Conclusions Data on use of mobile phones in young people is needed to characterize exposure and improve exposure assessment in epidemiological studies.