Study on Mobile Phone Use and Health in Finland
Author Information
Author(s): Heinävaara Sirpa, Tokola Kari, Kurttio Päivi, Auvinen Anssi
Primary Institution: Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Research and Environmental Surveillance, Health Risks and Radon Safety, Helsinki, Finland
Hypothesis
What is the agreement between self-reported and operator-derived estimates of mobile phone use?
Conclusion
The study found moderate agreement between self-reported mobile phone use and operator data, with common overestimation of call time by participants.
Supporting Evidence
- The average response rate for both questionnaires and recruitment procedures was 12%.
- Operator data were available for 83% of the participants for 2007.
- Self-reported mobile phone use was often overestimated compared to operator data.
Takeaway
People often think they use their mobile phones more than they actually do, and this study shows that it's important to check phone records to get accurate information.
Methodology
The study recruited 5,400 subjects and compared self-reported mobile phone use with operator data over a three-month period.
Potential Biases
Recall bias may affect self-reported data, leading to overestimation of mobile phone use.
Limitations
The response rate was low, and the study only included private subscribers, potentially missing heavy users with corporate phones.
Participant Demographics
Participants were stratified by age, sex, and level of mobile phone use.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
[0.54, 0.66]
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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